Mikel Arteta was present at his pre-match press conference and we take a look at the key takeaways.
Let's talk about the team news, Gabriel missed part of the training, how is he?
We still have a day to prepare for the game and we'll see tomorrow (Saturday) if everyone is available.
Are there any new injury concerns after the game against Bayern?
There are some problems, but hopefully after a day our players will be OK.
What do you think of Bayern?
Now that the page has been turned, the topic of Bayern is over, and now there is only Villa.
Did Saka calm down after the penalty?
Yes, he looked fine this morning, Saka had 48 hours to think about it and now it's fine.
Are you happy with the introduction of semi-automatic offside detection technology in the Premier League?
Yes, if this is a unanimous decision, it means that this technology will make the situation better, faster and more efficient. Hopefully it will be better for us too.
When will Timber make a comeback?
He still has a few more steps, Timber needs to play at least one game with the Under-23s and we have an internal practice game soon. Timber has been in all the training sessions and now it's time for him to get back to the physical condition he needs to compete.
In football, there are opponents around you to interfere and fight, which is completely different from training.
Villa have just finished a Europa League game and have a lot of injuries, will you turn that into an advantage?
We have always tried to create everything that is in the driver's seat. We don't know what Villa are going to do, it's not something we can control, and with Villa winning in midweek, they're a fantastic team.
How will the next two weeks be decisive for the whole season?
It's definitely decisive, and it's possible that we'll continue to compete in all competitions, maybe we'll be in the semi-finals of the Champions League, maybe not. In short, every game defines the future direction of the team.
It's impossible to just focus on the next game in front of you, isn't it?
That's the only way to do it, focus on one game at a time, every day. It's the only thing that retains your focus, determines your task for the day, and is the only thing you can control.
So, you've never woken up in the morning thinking 'I could be the first manager in 20 years to win the Premier League with Arsenal'?
Frankly, I wouldn't think that way. I'm thinking about how to beat the next opponent and keep our position. There is still a long way to go.
Gabriel Jesus says he plays with injuries a lot and do you need to manage his fitness for the rest of the season?
In a top-level sporting event, I think it's very difficult to participate in it without any pain. When your players play one game in three days and at our intensity, if you ask any player and he says: 'yes, sometimes it hurts and you have to deal with that. ”
Gabriel Jesus has a very resilient character, he always wants to overcome all kinds of difficulties and has overcome some of the difficulties in his injury, he is ready again.
Do you think Kai Havertz is more appropriate to play as a number nine than a number eight?
I'm not sure, I think it depends on the game, it depends on the strategy that the opponent takes, what role Havertz plays, and I don't know until the day of the game.
I wouldn't say Kai Havertz is more comfortable playing as a no.9, I think he's obviously made a huge impact in the no.9 role, but he's also very similar in the no.8 position.
That's most of the press conference, but there are many more questions that I won't list one by one.
Gabe seems to have missed part of the training recently, I don't know what the situation is, although it is certainly not a big problem, but now every game is the key, I hope Gabe can recover in time, next week away against Bayern, he will definitely be needed!
Timber's comeback looks like he has to wait a little longer, in fact, he has already returned to training, but we have also stressed many times that with the nature of his injury and the length of his absence, it is impossible to return as soon as he recovers from training, he needs a long recovery process, the injury is good, but the fitness, physical condition, and the confidence and feeling of the game need to be slowly recovered.
Looking at the meaning of the tower, it is estimated that it will be good to make a comeback this month.
As for whether he can only focus on the current game, this is hard to say, but Arteta must answer like this, he must be down-to-earth, he can't tell reporters that he is already dreaming of winning the championship, and the situation does not allow it, in fact, Arsenal may still face the dilemma of the four empty at any time this season, and it is far from the end!
Originally, I was thinking that Arsenal would play two games a week, and it would be very difficult to play Villa again at the weekend, but in fact, Villa had just finished playing a midweek European game, and there was more than a day less rest than Arsenal, and their injury situation was more complicated, so they must strive to win the next league game!
On the issue of Kai Havertz, his versatility is a real asset to the team, but it always feels like it would be better to give him a relatively stable position as soon as possible. It will also help to sort out the positioning of other players: whether Kai Havertz is a central striker or a midfielder could affect the future of Gabriel Jesus, Ronaldo and even the recruitment plans.
Uncle Jiang mentioned this in his recent article.
Mirror reporter Jiang Shu posted that Arsenal may change their recruitment plans this summer because of Havertz's huge success this season.
According to the report, Arsenal are still searching for a no.9 option, but they may be eyeing a young striker who can continue to develop in the future, with the Gunners now more likely to be a priority for bringing in a winger who could compete with Bukayo Saka and Martinelli.
Jiang pointed out that Arsenal admired Dzekereish, but he only joined Sporting for £20 million last summer, and if the clubs hadn't spent the money on him at the time, it would not have been possible to pay him a hefty transfer fee just 12 months later.
Arsenal also admire Ewan Ferguson, the 19-year-old striker is seen as a hopeful, but the Gunners' bid for Toney is becoming less and less likely, with the Brentford star's price and age suggesting Arsenal may be looking for other targets.
Kai Havertz has indeed played better and better this season, and his efficiency has improved, and Uncle Jiang is also a reliable reporter for Arsenal, but my personal feeling is that Arsenal will not change their summer plans at will.
Arteta also said that Havertz's position is not fixed, and it is difficult to say whether his position is a center forward, so how can he not buy an excellent center forward because of him? Not to mention that no matter what the result of this season is, Arsenal's positioning next season will definitely be to compete for the title on all fronts, so Havertz as the main center forward, frankly speaking, the goal rate is still not enough. If Arsenal wants to win the title, it is better to sign a striker who can score more than 30 goals in a season!
Of course, it's quite possible not to buy an "older" candidate like Tony, and I personally tend to buy future stars with top potential, but there are not many options on the market, so let's take it one step at a time.
I think wingers should be bought, especially Saka's rotation substitute, Martinelli doesn't need to buy it, because Gabriel Jesus, Trossard and even Ronaldo can play this position, the key is Saka's side.
As for the rumored targets of Jekereish and Ferguson, in the end it depends on the cost, not that Jekereish is bad, but if Sporting Portugal opens its mouth is 100 million, then how to buy it......
A lot of things are still uncertain, let's talk about it after watching this season, in terms of this season's results and performance, rest assured, there will definitely be money to spend in the summer!
According to Bild, Arsenal are keen to buy Hugo Larsson this summer and the Gunners are keeping a close eye on the midfielder's development.
The 19-year-old has admitted he dreams of one day playing in the Premier League and the opportunity to join Arsenal is clearly appealing to him, although it is unclear whether Mikel Arteta's side will seriously submit an offer for the Eintracht Frankfurt star in the summer.
In fact, Arsenal has been rumored with Larsson for a long time, but there has been no action, I personally think that with the team's current financial resources and goals, they may not buy him, and may give priority to finding targets from the Premier League, or directly buy finished products like Zubimendi. After all, this time is different from the past, and what is needed now is to do it in one step, and there is no need to be aggrieved and accommodating yourself.
However, as with the striker, the midfielder will not necessarily buy anyone, let's talk more about it in June.