Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been speaking on a raft of topics ahead of the tough trip to Aston Villa at the weekend.

The Basque-born boss discussed a range of issues, including the prospect of signing his new deal with the club, as well as Eddie Nketiah's future, not to mention his take on Arsenal academy players being sold, and of course possible movement before the tranasfer window slams shut next week. 

Read on for his thoughts on Saturday evening's big clash at Villa Park, his compatriot Unai Emery - and so much more after his Friday morning press conference at London Colney. 

With the end of the transfer window in sight, the boss was probed about potential ins and outs, as well as the influence of Basque managers in the top-flight, the belief in the squad, tactics and much more.

Here is everything he had to say:

on the Mikel Merino rumours:

You know that I cannot talk about any player that is not with us. There is still time in the market, both ways, for other managers and other teams and you can tell it is the end.

on whether something will happen soon:

I’m not sure, the full focus is on the players that we have at the moment. The big matter is tomorrow against Aston Villa and that’s where we’re at.

on rumours surrounding Eddie Nketiah:

I expect Eddie to train with us today and be prepared for tomorrow, and then whatever happens, it will happen if it’s good for everyone.

on whether the players feel it’s their time to win the league:

I always feel we need to believe in our players and trust them. That’s the only way to get the best out of your team and the individuals, and we always have done. If it’s to achieve one level, that’s something else but it is not what we want, we want to perform at the highest level in every game to earn the right to win it. Tomorrow is no different, it is the second game, and that’s what we’re going to do.

on why Villa beat us twice last season:

They scored and we didn’t, it’s very simple. In two games we had an enormous amount of chances to do that, and that was the big difference. There were other details for sure which we have analysed, and we will have to do better tomorrow because they are a really good side with a good coach.

on why they’re a difficult opponent:

They dominate every aspect of the game, when you give them space to run they are phenomenal, when there is no space and they have to find it they can do that. In any restarts or set-pieces, they are at it, and that’s why they did what they did.

on why so many Basque managers are in the Premier League:

Go to San Sebastian and then come back and ask me that question! You all have to go there, it’s a beautiful place, beautiful seafront, great restaurants and a great culture. We all have a passion and the education that we’ve all had, and then we all need opportunities and chances - someone has to believe in you. What Unai [Emery] and Julen [Lopetegui] did for us was set the standard so high, they won a lot. The way they coach their teams, the way they represented their clubs was at the highest level, and that gave a platform for the younger ones like myself, like Xabi [Alonso], like Andoni [Iraola] probably to earn that curiosity that there are coaches from here, so we need to be grateful to those two.

on whether they all have a WhatsApp group:

No we don’t!

on whether Jurrien Timber could play in midfield:

He can play in various positions, his versatility is one of his biggest strengths. He’s been out for 11 months and it’s great to have him back. He played some quality minutes the other day, like Alex did as well, I think Alex was really good as well, especially in the first 60 minutes against Wolves. Having the capacity in the squad to change things around and find other things that the team needs in that moment is something very valuable.

on how he’s found the past two seasons mentally:

It’s great, there is so much energy. In our job, every day there is something new and so you are going to have ideas. The players give you so much information and so much to think about, and we have the staff who are curious and want to get better and evolve. This is why the transformation happened because we are all on the same page.

on if Declan Rice should be seen as a six or an eight:

I think [both]. At his age, it would be a big mistake not to do that and not to have the capacity to play in different positions, and then within the game he will have a different role in relation to the opponents and what they do. Last year he showed he has the ability to shift from one thing to the other, sometimes within the same game, and with the short squad that we have, that’s really important.

on how much confidence we have from our away record last season:

That we’ve done it, that’s the confidence. Now we have to show it again. Tomorrow we go there with that belief and being very clear in what we want to do and what we have to do to earn the right to win the game, and we will certainly try to do that tomorrow.

on Bukayo Saka’s motivation for breaking records:

That’s a question for him. When you look at those numbers at his age, that’s very special, especially in the position that he plays. You expect a different position can be more consistent like that, so it’s a rare thing to see. Big credit to him.

on if Timber is fit enough to start on the weekend:

He had a really good pre-season to a point, then we had to stop him because he had a little issue there and we didn’t feel like he was ready. We have to build him up, we have to be cautious so I’m not sure.

on five players being named in the PFA Team of the Year:

It was a really proud moment, for the second year in a row to have five players in the starting XI is a big thing. Everybody at the club is really proud of them, proud of the team. They are there as well because other players have contributed for them to perform at that level, and obviously all of the staff that have been involved every day as well to try to make them better.

on if we’re looking to recruit players before the end of the transfer window:

We have to, because anything can happen both ways, especially in the last week. You have to be ready, especially in the last week, you have to be ready and be prepared because a lot of surprises can come, for many different reasons and we are prepared.

on Mikel’s own contract at the club:

The focus has been on the transfer window and we had quite a lot of things to do, to discuss. We are on it and we will take care of that at the right moment.

on whether he can have those talks when the transfer window is closed:Yes

on how big of a test Villa away is so early in the season:

It’s one of the toughest places to go for sure. We know that, we’ve prepared really well to understand what we have to do to go there and win the game.

on the importance of getting a result against Unai Emery personally:

Personally? I don’t do things personally, I just have the will to win and prepare the team in the best possible way, regardless of who we are playing against.

on some clubs not doing much business in the transfer window:

Everybody will be in a different position. We knew what we wanted to do, what we could do, as well which is important, and we have to put those two things together at the end. What is available that can strengthen our squad, make the team better for the short, medium and long term as well which is important. Another thing that is very important is to look at our academy as well, it has to be approached in the right way because now we have some promising talent coming out there, so we have to create some space for those kids to establish themselves and come very close to the first team as well.

on clubs selling their academy players:

I wouldn’t differentiate it because Arsenal and many other club have sold older players. They’re part of the squad, you cannot differentiate it, they are getting sold. Now you’ve got a player who wants to go, sometimes because the club needs to because both of them agree that it’s the best thing to do for the sake of their career. Those players have been at the club for a long time, whereas with foreign players maybe that doesn’t happen. I wouldn’t look at it that way, I think it’s important that when we make a decision or a player makes a decision, we are fully aligned. In the case of Emile, it was clear, he expressed a desire to play more in the last two seasons and it’s very understandable. You can’t stand in the way of somebody who has given you so much.

on the importance of the ways Mikel communicates:

It’s difficult not to create more problems! It’s very important because in the end, you’re representing the club, the team and those players. You guys have to understand what we do and to express that in the right manner and understand where you guys are coming from as well. It’s very important every time we’re here in front of the media representing the club, it’s a huge thing obviously.

on if it’s different with the players compared to with the media:

It is but as a player you have the responsibility with the mic after the game to try your hardest to keep people high. With a lot of emotions, it’s tricky. A lot of it is trial and error, a lot of error, but hopefully it will get better. It’s something that is there and we have to live with it.

on being sat in the stands for this fixture last season:

I didn’t enjoy it one bit. It was too far. The moment that I love the most during the week, you are just building everything to get to that moment, be on the grass next to the players and the competition. Being there was frustrating.

on if it motivated him to avoid it happening again:

Yes, when you make a mistake, you think ‘I should have.’

on working with Raheem Sterling at Manchester City:

My time with him was exceptional. I think we built a really strong relationship together. He was unbelievable at the time we worked together and he taught me a lot as well about individuals and how players think, how we give them support and help them. He’s someone that I really have strong feelings about.

on the size of the squad at Chelsea:

I don’t know, I’m not in his [Enzo’s] shoes. He’s someone that I really like in the way that he coaches. There are so many good things about him, I know him a little bit and I just wish him the best. He’s got a beautiful project ahead of him.

on the idea of where to take the club in years to come:

I am very grateful first of all for where I’m sitting and the people I work with every single day. It’s really difficult to find that harmony, trust, belief and an alignment in the vision. It’s something I always mention. We have an unbelievable time ahead of us and I’m very excited about it.

on if longevity is a target:

I see myself today and tomorrow and this is the reality of us as managers. We have to live with that urgency as well. It’s something that I actually like. Look in two or three years time, you have to plan as a club what will happen afterwards depending on how good the results are that we get. That’s the reality. Do your best and enjoy it if you can.