Mikel Arteta discusses Arsenal’s preparation for the game against West Ham United, player injuries, and his admiration for David Moyes.

• Mikel Arteta provided updates on Arsenal’s injury news, with William Saliba still recovering and Eddie Nketiah returning to full fitness
• Arteta expressed admiration for West Ham manager David Moyes, under whom he played at Everton
• The Arsenal manager emphasised the importance of staying focused on each game as the Premier League title race continues

During his pre-match press conference, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided updates on the team’s injury news and shared his thoughts on the upcoming London derby against West Ham United.

Injuries and player availability

Arteta confirmed that defender William Saliba is still recovering from his back injury but is making progress.

He is hopeful Saliba will be available in the next few weeks.

Striker Eddie Nketiah has returned to full fitness and is available for selection.

“William [Saliba] is still not available,” Arteta said. “He’s progressing well and we are hopeful we’ll have him available in the next few weeks, but we’ll have to see. Eddie is back and is fully fit now.”

Praise for David Moyes

Arteta expressed his admiration for West Ham manager David Moyes, under whom he played at Everton.

He described Moyes as an excellent coach and a special person who earned the respect and loyalty of his players.

“More than respect, I think it’s admiration,” Arteta said.

“I loved playing under him, I would go through a brick wall for him when he was my manager, as everybody would in that squad.

“[He’s] a really good coach, exceptional at managing the group and dealing with individuals, and he’s a very special person, very trustworthy, and a man who honours his word. He always did it and he’s someone I learnt a lot from.”

Focus on the Premier League title

With the Premier League title race heating up, Arteta emphasised the importance of taking things game by game and staying present in the moment.

He acknowledged that luck plays a part in the title race, but also stressed the need for consistency and performing at the highest level.

“You need luck in the right moments. Why that luck comes is really important, how you think about it and what’s going to happen.

“It’s another part of this sport; sometimes it’s about inches and those inches need to go your way. ”

Martinelli’s growth and impact

Arteta praised Gabriel Martinelli’s development this season, attributing his success to increased game time, another year of experience, and a strong work ethic.

He believes Martinelli still has room for improvement.

“He’s playing more games, that’s for sure. He’s got another year of experience, he’s got a huge understanding now with his teammates.

“The way he approaches every single session, the way he approaches his training, his life – he just has to be the best.

“When that happens, and you have the consistency that he has in how he deals with every situation in every day, only good outcomes are going to be in front of him.

“I’m not surprised about that, and he has still a lot of things to improve on.”

Looking ahead to the West Ham game

Arteta expects a challenging match against West Ham, a team that has proven difficult for Arsenal in the past. He is prepared for a hard-fought battle in the London derby and emphasised the need for his team to be at their best to secure a win.

“[It will be a] very difficult game. We know, we’ve been there a few times and we always find really tricky and difficult games.

“I know David really well and how he’s going to prepare for the game as well, and we are ready. It’s going to be a fight; it’s going to be another big derby for us and we’re going to be at our best to win it.”