Arteta says urgency is the key to Arsenal's title challenge, provides injury updates

Arteta on the touchline
Arteta on the touchlineSimon Dael / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has spoken to the media ahead of this weekend's clash with Burnley.

Arsenal have secured an excellent eight-game winning streak heading into the clash at Turf Moor and can now win four top-flight games in a row without conceding for the first time since Arteta was in the side back in 2014.

Team news

Looking to extend their seven-point lead at the top, Arteta first gave some team news on a number of players who are set to return over the next few weeks.

"(Gabriel) Martinelli is still out. (William) Saliba, we will have to wait and see because we have another training session this afternoon. The rest are getting closer but not available yet." 

On how long Martinelli could be out for: "We aren't sure yet, but I think this game will come too soon." 

On Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz who are seeking to return: "I would say weeks. Some of them pretty soon, hopefully. If they keep evolving the way they are doing.

"After the international break, I think we will have some back. I don't know if it will be all of them or some of them, but we will be quite close by then." 

The Spanish head coach then sent a message to his side, who in midweek set a new English football record by becoming the first top-flight team to play six games in a single month and not concede one goal. 

"(Keep the foot on the gas) and maintain the level of urgency. (Keep) the concentration, the focus and the ambition we are showing in every game. Every game brings different challenges. Sometimes we have to be very patient, some of the times we have to have a different approach.

"It's a big opportunity that we have ahead of us, but we have to continue with that level of consistency, and we know how difficult that is. Tomorrow is going to be an extremely tough match for us, and we're going to have to again hit those performance levels to end the game."

Next, questions turned to Burnley, who are five points clear of the relegation zone after an impressive start. 

"It is going to be really tough. They are well coached. What he (Burnley manager Scott Parker) has done with the club is formidable.

"When you look at all of their games - say the last five games they have played - they are a very tough team to beat." 

Are Arsenal unstoppable?

The media then focused on if there is a feeling that Arsenal are unstoppable at the moment as they head to a ground where they have never lost in the Premier League.

"No, because you always have that sense of urgency, and you see the complications and the challenges that the next opponent is going to bring you, and we know that and every three days, we have very little time to train and prepare.

"We always have to be like this, and I see everybody on their toes, ready for the next game and accepting that challenge and understanding that the opportunity is there as well, and if we do what we have to do, we have a big opportunity to win again."

Finally, he was asked what he has done to try and become a little bit more calm and controlled on the sideline, especially in a title race.

"I think it's the years, I think the trust and confidence that you have in the team as well, in the work that you do. Getting feedback, I think is the best thing for people that are very close in our job, people that know you really, really well. 

"Where is that coming from? Because sometimes it's a way. I want my team to be very active and at the same time very creative and very disciplined. And if you want the manager to be like that, you cannot be just watching the game like this.

"So, as well, it's something that is the way I am, it's the way I live the game, and I want the players as well to live the game constantly with that body language. And from there, you can always improve."

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