Home GeneralArteta on team news, 'very rare' Dowman and facing Leverkusen

Arteta on team news, 'very rare' Dowman and facing Leverkusen

by Luna
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

  • Arteta confirmed both Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard are out for Tuesday's match. However, Leandro Trossard "felt good" in training and is available.
  • With Timber, the Arsenal boss thinks it will be "a matter of days" but is unsure if he will be ready for the Carabao Cup final at the weekend, while they are "really pushing" captain Odegaard and he "wants to try to be available" for Wembley but they will have to see how he feels in training this week.
  • On how proud he is of Max Dowman's goal and impact against Everton: “Very. To do what he did in such a moment is very rare to see. Impossible almost. But he’s done it and what happened a few days ago is not relevant any more – it is about the next one.”
  • He added on the 16-year-old record breaker: "The most important one [support for him] is his family. He's in a very good place there as well. He is used to a lot of things, he takes it normally and knows what the sport is about."
  • After his passionate showing on the touchline on Saturday, Areta said he "loves these moments" and added: "When the team needs help – in any way we can contribute, give them energy – we have to be there. We noticed immediately that the atmosphere changed and the players changed, and we managed to win the game."
  • He felt the three points against Everton were a "significant moment" and "nice moment to live together", but "full focus" is on the Champions League game now.
  • On whether the emotions are more intense now: "The will to win increases year by year when you have been so close. But stay focused and enjoy the moment – we have to feel privileged to be where we are and then try to make it happen."
  • On what they are expecting from Bayer Leverkusen: "Watching them play against Bayern Munich at the weekend, very similar. Really well coached, clear structure. We know what we have to do in front of our crowd. Hopefully we are going to do it."

Listen to full commentary of Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday from 20:00 GMT on BBC Sounds

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[BBC]

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