Mikel Arteta speaks on Calafiori’s debut and Nketiah’s transfer.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta addresses the media following his team’s Emirates Cup clash against Lyon, where he shared his thoughts on Riccardo Calafiori’s debut and the ongoing transfer situation with Eddie Nketiah.

Arteta was full of praise for the new signing, Riccardo Calafiori, who made his debut in the 64th minute of the match. The manager highlighted the warm reception Calafiori received from the fans, noting how such support can significantly boost a player’s confidence and integration into the team. Arteta said, “I just love it when the fans react like that to one of your own. The way you feel it straight away, it’s love, you are respected, they are right behind you. And that’s an unbelievable platform for someone to join our club”.

Regarding Eddie Nketiah, who was not featured in the match, Arteta provided an update on his status. He emphasized that all players currently with the team are likely to stay, indicating that there are no immediate plans for Nketiah’s departure. Arteta stated, “All the players that are here, that’s the biggest chance that they’ll stay with us. That’s why they’re here”.

Arteta also touched other topics, including the team’s performance and set-piece strategies. He expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall performance in the pre-season, noting the importance of evolving their set-piece tactics. He mentioned, “We are constantly evolving what we’ve done. Today we are happy because we scored from two set pieces. It gives us confidence and it gives us a platform and another threat for the opponent”.

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