Mikel Arteta Newcastle United press conference – Speaks ahead of key match on Sunday | OneFootball

The Mikel Arteta Newcastle United press conference has taken place.

The Arsenal boss speaking on Friday afternoon.

The Gunners playing at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.

Mikel Arteta facing Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United who have already defeated Arsenal three times

A win for Newcastle would see them move above Arsenal into second and United then guaranteed a Champions League place, whilst the Gunners themselves are not quite over the qualifying line yet.

The Mikel Arteta Newcastle United press conference as reported by the official Arsenal media – 16 May 2025:

Mikel Arteta asked if Kai Havertz could be involved against Newcastle United?

‘We’re going to decide that tomorrow. He’s done certain parts of the sessions in the last two days and looks in great shape, but I think it’s more of a shout for all the medical staff, the doctor especially to give the clearance and then how Kai actually feels to contribute if he’s required.’

Mikel Arteta asked about injury updates and availability for Rice, Trossard, Martinelli and Timber for this Newcastle match:

T’hey’ve done parts of the session, not a complete session, so we’re going to have to wait and see tomorrow if they can deal with things that they haven’t done because they weren’t ready to that at the end of the week.’

Mikel Arteta asked if the players have one more big performance in them?

‘They do – not one, we need two, and now we’re going to start with that one. We’re going to need a big one and be very clinical because we know the qualities of Newcastle. We know the results that we had lately against them and how thin the margins are with them and especially how clinical we have to be in front of them to score the goals.’

Mikel Arteta asked about the importance of finishing runners-up:

‘You have to always be as good as you possibly can. The dream of winning the Premier League this season is gone, so as we said, be the best of the rest and feel that pain to be better.’

Mikel Arteta asked if Newcastle United are a bogey team for Arsenal?

‘They’re a very difficult team for any opposition, I think. What Eddie, the staff and as a club they’ve have done over the last few years is remarkable. They’ve been very, very consistent and very difficult to play against, like we’ve been.’

Mikel Arteta asked what makes Newcastle United so difficult to play against?

‘They dominate almost every aspect of the game. They are great when they have to attack a low block and they have a lot of presence in the box. If they need to run set-pieces, run transitions, defend a low block or if the game has to get physical, they are ready to do that. The way they compete, they are smart. They try to take advantage of a lot of things like any good team, and you have to dominate a lot of things, even if you’re not on top of the table in this league.’

Mikel Arteta on if the hierarchy of the top six has gone:

‘I think the level has gone to something bigger than what we experienced in the previous 12 months last season and past experience. I know a lot of the coaches and we had discussions about that, so it’s frightening the way it’s evolving, how competitive it is, how difficult it is to win. The margins for why you win or don’t win in the Premier League is incredible so next season is going to be even more difficult.’

Mike Arteta on if Newcastle could be in the conversation of title contenders next season:

‘Yeah, they’ve certainly built the squad, they have the quality and a very clear identity. On top of that, it would be very dependent on if teams are in Europe or not in Europe, playing once a week or three times a week. That’s a massive change as well and we have all experienced that.’

Mikel Arteta on if it’s taken for granted that we qualify regularly for the Champions League:

‘I think you ask any manager at the end of the season: ‘can you promise to be in the Champions League next season?’, I don’t know who is going to say yes to that, so that tells you the story. We know the difficulties, but we understand the expectations and how people think but to get sustainability, stability and to be in the best possible position as a football club, as a squad, as a team, certainly you have to be in that competition.’

Mikel Arteta asked whether he gets credit for how far he’s brought Arsenal over the last five years?

‘I don’t know but it’s not something I’m looking for. I’m looking to give my very best to facilitate and to give my vision, my work and bring people together to get this club as far as we possibly can, as quickly as possible. I guarantee you that’s what I’ve been doing for the last five years of my life.’

Mikel Arteta asked if increased expectations leads to increased pressure?

‘It has to be and especially internally. I think it is how much you demand of yourself and how much we demand of the person next to him and the crowd and the supporters is always a big measure as well because it has to exist, that connection but as well that demand between all of us to be better. Then we will get better at the small margins that can define winning big trophies or not.’

‘I wouldn’t use that word. I think you probably have regrets in your life and anything that you do in professional life as well when you haven’t done your best. I can guarantee and give you my word that we have all tried our very best. If you ask if we wanted a different outcome, especially with how close we’ve come again, then the answer is yes. But that doesn’t undermine a lot of incredible things that this team has done again in the context that we play, against the opposition that we play, with the circumstances that we had. It’s impossible to undermine.’