Arteta Reflects on Arsenal’s Performance, Transfer Plans and Challenges Ahead
Sports Updated: 29 December 2025 16:54 EAT
Mikel Arteta of Arsenal and Unai Emery of Aston villa
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Aston Villa for their consistency and strong performance in the Premier League. “They merit to be there (at the top), look what they are doing and how consistent they've been. Unai [Emery] has done with the club, so I think they fully deserve that credit because they are doing it on the pitch where you have to show your level,” Arteta said ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming clash with Villa.
Reflecting on Arsenal’s recent late loss at Villa Park, Arteta believes it can serve as motivation for his players. “If you use that motivation and that anger in the right manner, for sure,” he said, emphasising the importance of channeling disappointment into positive energy.
Arteta also stressed the importance of turning the Emirates Stadium into a fortress. “That's what we want, that every opponent that comes here suffers. And we are as dominant as we were today (vs. Brighton), again, for the majority of the game,” he said. “Against [Aston] Villa, we have a really tough match. We know their level, what they are doing. But beautiful game as well to prepare and play.”
The Arsenal boss addressed questions about the club’s plans for the January transfer window. “I don't know, we're gonna be really obviously aware of the situation and the timescale of certain players, if going from the front line then to the back line. But that's the depth that you need. I mean, when you look across the other clubs as well, they have 24, 25 squad players and so there's nothing special in our squad,” Arteta explained.
He added that injuries have played a role in squad planning. “The thing is that, obviously, we had more injuries than expected, some of them not avoidable. I would say, but we want to be better and we know how important it is to have the right availability with players going to play in this season,” he said, stressing the importance of maintaining depth and flexibility.
On whether he feels the squad is already full, Arteta said: “Depending, as I said, on the availability of certain players. So the window is there. I mean, we are Arsenal and we have to be looking at it. OK, what do we need? And we have to be actively looking. Can we do it or not? That's a different story. But our job is to be always very prepared because something can happen. So hopefully, very positive.”
Arteta also touched on possible outgoings, leaving the decisions largely to technical director Andrea Berta. “Again, we assess every situation. I leave that much more to Andrea [Berta] to understand what's happening in the market and individual players, obviously. We have to assess where we are with each of them and get the best situation,” he said.
Discussing Gyokeres’ recent goal drought, Arteta remained supportive. “Yes, because we wanted to score, obviously. He had a few chances today (vs. Brighton), a few great positions. The ball didn't arrive, so keep insisting. It's the only way,” he said, encouraging persistence.
Arteta highlighted the significance of maintaining focus on key matches. “Every game is an opportunity to show our level, and against teams like Villa, we have to be at our best. That’s the mindset we want the players to carry into every fixture,” he added.
The manager emphasised that team preparation and adaptability are crucial heading into a busy winter schedule. “We need to be ready for different scenarios, and that’s why we constantly assess the squad and plan ahead. Injuries, fitness, form — everything matters,” Arteta said.
Finally, Arteta underlined the importance of collective effort and consistency. “Our job is to control what we can, improve every day, and ensure that when players step onto the pitch, they are mentally and physically prepared. That’s how we maintain standards and aim for success,” he concluded.
Tags: Arsenal Fc Aston Villa English Premier League Epl Signsmedia Signstvkenya Signs Media Kenya Limited
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD