Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta don warn im players make dem no relax as di Gunners dey chase history. Arsenal wan become first Arsenal side to win first eight games of season since 1903. Victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday go make Arsenal match record wey dem set back in 1903. But Arteta insist say him players no fit let history distract dem.
Arteta talk say Brighton na really tough opponent tomorrow, so Arsenal go need earn right to win di game. He say that go be mindset of players and team. Dem ask am if he surprise with seven straight wins, he talk say e no surprise am because attitude of players during summer leave am no doubt. He talk say e hard to win football match at this level, so to win seven tell story. After World Cup, plenty unknowns dey about how players and team go react. Dem no get time to work together. But from day one, attitude and wetin he see impress am. Then you put am down to performances. Dem get small luck too to win four matches. Arsenal dey here, and dem want make another one tomorrow.
Arsenal longest winning streak to start season na 1903-04 with eight wins. Back then, team wey dem call Woolwich Arsenal dey play for Second Division. Their eight-game winning streak include 8-0 wins over Leicester Fosse and Burton Albion. Dem also beat Manchester United 4-0. Arsenal score 91 goals and concede 22, both league-highs. Di Invincibles of 2004-05 come closest to matching eight-game run, as dem kick off famous campaign with seven straight wins. Arteta current crop don already match that. But Arteta no dey entertain talk of another unbeaten season. He talk say dem get enough on plate today to prepare for game against really good Brighton tomorrow. Dem know how tough e go be to earn right to win am, na dat.
For im pre-Brighton press conference, Arteta also give updates. He talk say Ben White dey all good. Arsenal get another training session this afternoon, so he positive about everybody. Dem ask if he positive about Timber, Mosquera and Hincapie. He talk yes, dem get another session; all of dem willing to be part. Dem get another session to try make sure dem fit. On referee matter, Arteta talk say e no dey about apology; na about agreeing whether decision should have been different. Maybe Pro Ref get different opinion. Make dem try improve and move forward together. He talk say conversations with Pro Ref remain private.
Arteta also address Fabian Hurzeler apology after last game at Brighton. He talk say that one done, e don pass. He get huge respect for Fabian, wetin he don do and wetin Brighton don do as club, e remarkable. Tomorrow go be beautiful game to watch. On im contract, Arteta talk say everybody aligned; whenever time right, dem go do am. Nothing to worry about. On longer international break, he talk say make dem see how e pan out. Every national team different.
Arteta praise David Raya story from National League to one of best goalkeepers for world. He talk say na great story for any kid, to look at trajectories and pathways, how you reach highest level. He talk say Raya mentality strong. He get tremendous quality, but he overcome plenty difficulties and challenges to reach this point. When he reach, e no easy at beginning; he dig in and prove himself. With all coaches, especially Inaki Cana, doing amazing work with him daily, and all teammates, he earn right to be one of best now. Dem ask if Raya best signing, Arteta talk he no know; he been tremendous signing. Whether best or not na opinion, but dem happy to get am. He help take team and club to different level, and now dem need maintain that level.
On players, Arteta talk say Guimaraes can play left, right, middle, he rotate from there. He na dynamic, versatile player wey can deliver great moments in any position. E go depend on wetin dem need on day, relationship with other midfielders, and wetin opponent do. On Viktor Gyokeres confidence, Arteta talk no. Especially for Premier League, he never play plenty minutes, but last week against Napoli he play and get good game. Na about moments. Dem need give am all support and confidence because dem know player and capacity to score goals. On Eze left wing, he talk say Eze always play there for im career; na where im biggest moments and highlights come. Na place he feel very comfortable. On Ezri Konsa, Arteta talk say he hear great things before he join, and when you get am daily, you realise magnitude of player dem sign. Not only player but person, how he present himself, how he connect with people immediately. When you see Konsa and Big Gabi for corridors talking, how dem interact, e seem like dem don dey here long, long time together. That partnership important on field. On Max Dowman, Arteta talk say he dey develop great way. When you see how those players behave daily, level of attention to detail, how dem look after themselves, standard dem set, if you become part of that environment, e go raise your level. It educate you in way wey become normal and you hit another level.
