FILE: Mikel Arteta | Arsenal website
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has warned his side to expect a tough test against Lille in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash, while explaining how he selects his starting team based on the players he expects to finish matches.
Arteta said Lille, coached by Davide, were well organised and had caused problems for major teams, urging Arsenal to be ready for the challenge at the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, according to a report titled “Every word from Mikel Arteta’s pre-Lille presser” published on Arsenal’s official website, the Spaniard praised Lille’s preparation and competitiveness.
“What Davide has done is, I think, remarkable. You can just see the way that they are competing and playing and the problems that they have caused to big teams, and tomorrow is not going to be different until we are ready for it,” Arteta said.
The Arsenal manager also explained that his team selection was influenced by how he expected matches to develop, including the need for substitutes to make decisive contributions.
Asked about the most important factor when choosing his starting XI, Arteta said he sometimes selected players based on their ability to influence the closing stages of a game.
“Sometimes I’m going to pick a team or players in relation to what I expect, especially at the beginning, that can finish the game, because that’s where most of the games are decided, at this level as well, and we have the bench and the players that are capable of doing that, and we’re going to use, obviously, that resource,” he said.
Another Champions League final
The Spaniard also reminded his players that they would have to work hard to reach another Champions League final after losing last season’s showpiece.
Arteta said the team needed to recognise how difficult it was to reach that stage and earn another opportunity to compete for the trophy.
“That you’re going to have to earn the right to get in that position again. We know how tough it is and how many times we’ve done it in the history of our club. So first of all, realise that, and tomorrow we’re going to have a really tough opponent in front of us,” he said.
He reiterated that Lille would provide a stern examination, praising their coach and the problems they had caused other major teams.
Arteta hails Giroud’s intelligence
Arteta also praised former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud ahead of facing the French side, recalling their time as teammates and highlighting the striker’s contribution to the club.
Describing Giroud as a great character and person to have around the dressing room, Arteta said the forward brought a different profile to Arsenal’s attack when he arrived after winning the French Ligue 1 title with Montpellier.
Asked whether Giroud had been underrated during his Arsenal career, Arteta said the striker had been highly valued by his teammates and former manager Arsène Wenger.
“Not for his teammates for sure or Arsene [Wenger] in this case. I don’t know the rest. But he was extremely intelligent first and he was really, really a handful. Every time you had him on the pitch, you had a massive threat inside the box,” he said.
Arteta added that Giroud was effective at linking up with teammates and praised his commitment on the pitch.
“He was so good at connecting with other players as well and his work rate was phenomenal, so certainly not [underrated] by us,” he said.
Arsenal face Lille on Tuesday as they continue their Champions League campaign, with Arteta urging his players to be prepared for a difficult encounter.