Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking ahead of the Gunners hosting Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesdy evening. 

The boss reflected on the defeat to Bournemouth and gave injury updates on Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber. 

Read on for everything Arteta had to say

on the message to our players after the Bournemouth game:

Very clear, we put a bit of perspective into the situation. Obviously we want to win in any context. The reality is we made that context very difficult for ourselves. It was very difficult already with the amount of players that we had out, the schedule and the games that we had to play, but that’s the reality. For that game we didn’t get away with it. We could’ve done and it would’ve been a very different narrative. The reality is we didn’t and now the context is that we have lost one game in six months. Ok, now we have to win again with the context that we have lost for the first time in six months, so let’s show it.

on our disciplinary record:

Playing with 10 men, obviously there is an issue. The truth is you analyse the three very different actions and the outcome of them, the reasons are very different. Regardless of that, we cannot continue to play with 10 men, especially at this level. You see how much of a struggle it is for all of the teams to win football matches. When you want to do it with 10 men for 65 minutes, the task becomes impossible so we need to eradicate that. It’s clear why, the reasons and how. It doesn’t matter, we have to focus that it has to happen.

on the availability of Odegaard and Saka:

They are closer and both progressing really well. Martin is still not fit. With Bukayo, let’s see how he feels today and in the training session that we have later on.

on our first defeat in 17 matches and having to eradicate mistakes:

I think we are already aligned that we cannot continue to play with 10 men. That’s fine, it’s easier to say it than get it done because they are very specific moments that adjust that situation, but it’s reacting. Defeat is part of the game, part of the sport. It happened in very specific conditions as well. Let’s move on, take that pain that we still have in the tummy and use it for tomorrow night.

on Shakhtar Donetsk’s circumstances and preparations:

Obviously a lot of sympathy for the situation that they’re in. Obviously, how can I imagine, especially speaking to Alex, how it affects the situation on yourself, the whole country, your families and the environment? The incredible attitude they’re having towards the situation and the things that they have to put in place to continue to be able to play football matches at this level and compete in the way they do, it’s remarkable and we’ll welcome them here tomorrow in the best possible way.

on if there is a plan to appeal Saliba’s red card:

I’ll leave that more to the club to understand the circumstances and as well other examples that are very clear in the same position. They will have to decide that.

on football not being the most important thing in the world:

No, clearly not, especially when you are comparing with the situation that they are in, but as well they have decided to use football with a lot of positive things that bring to life in a really powerful life. I think it’s remarkable, the way they have managed and are managing the situation, and the unity of the country. The capacity of the sport as well to bring joy to people’s lives and that’s something that we have to be very conscious of.

on the desire to start another unbeaten run on Tuesday:

Yeah, we have to start tomorrow obviously. The desire is there, we want to desperately play these kinds of matches, and we know the atmosphere is going to be terrific tomorrow night so let’s produce that and earn the right to win the game.

on if the team has to change its approach to improve our discipline:

I think for example what happened in those three cases [the three red cards], it’s nothing to do with aggression in my opinion. Everybody’s got their own opinion, we want to be super competitive when we are – when we show that, it’s great – and then when it doesn’t go your way, you lose and it’s part of the judgement.

on how close Timber is to playing:

I think he’s going to be close. Obviously, we have to see how he deals with training with the whole group because he hasn’t done that yet, but he will be pretty close hopefully.

on the issue he has:

It was a muscular injury.

on the consideration of when to start Nwaneri:

I think it’s identifying moments and understanding where he is, where the team is and where is the optimal moment to throw a player into that context. He’s already done a lot in a very short period of time, so let’s take it step by step and make sure those steps are consistent and can allow him to grow in the manner and form that we want him in the team.

on how our midfield were performing before Saliba’s red card:

Well it was different obviously, because Leo has been playing more central, but Gabi [Martinelli] had a calf issue with the national team and he wasn’t fit enough to start the match. Especially with what happened last year, when we lost him for five or six weeks, we didn’t want to do that which meant we had to adapt that and we had to adapt as well our midfield. It’s very difficult to have a proper assessment because I expected the first 15-20 minutes away at Bournemouth to be a certain way. There are different and new connections that obviously, with the injuries that we have, we have to try. It’s like the first time we played Leo and Kai. I heard a lot of things about whether we were playing 4-4-2. Then it was flowing and it was magnificent, so things need time in terms of unique connections. Yesterday was not the best one to use to analyse and take a lot of things from.

on how Zinchenko’s role has changed:

Yeah, hopefully a big one. Obviously we need him fit, availability is a big factor to maintain consistency and last year we had quite a lot of issues with that. The start of this season as well. Hopefully he is now fit, we can start to use him and he can start to impact the team in the manner that he can, which is really powerful as well. That’s what we’re hoping.

on how Wilshere could fit into a men’s coaching setting:

That’s a collaboration that we had, it’s the same with Mehmet [Ali]. Every time that we had academy players and he was involved he’s been great. In terms of supporting the first team, in terms of bringing ideas, in terms of collaborating in everything that we wanted. I know him, we played together and we have a really good relationship, so let’s see. 

on the differences between coaching first team and academy players:

Every player is different and every nationality and culture that each one has is different, but Jack is very experienced because he’s played in the game for such a long time. You have to have that skill as well to connect with your teammates and coaches, and they’re all different as well, different ages, different backgrounds and nationalities, and I think that’s a big strength of his.