Arteta on crazy schedule: “We’ve been preparing since pre-season”

The Spaniard highlighted the fact that he had three complicated and consecutive trips in just one week and that Manchester City had one more day of rest than Arsenal

Having returned to London just a few hours after the Champions League clash with Atalanta (0-0) in Bergamo, Mikel Arteta previewed Arsenal ‘s next game , which is against the reigning champions, Manchester City .

The Spaniard lamented the fact that the Citizens had one more day of rest than his team, something he tried to prevent from happening, without success: «We wanted the same as them, but we didn’t get it, so we have to adapt and make the most of the time we have today and tomorrow and the morning of the game to prepare ourselves in the best way to go there and win the game», he began by saying, in a press conference, then highlighting the fact that this is the third complicated and consecutive trip – Tottenham, Bergamo (to face Atalanta) and Manchester -, in just one week, therefore once again criticizing the calendar.

“Yes, we have been preparing for this since pre-season. Obviously, we knew the schedule and we knew that it is extremely rare to play in these conditions, with three big away games in six days, but that is what happened, so we have prepared for it, both physically, mentally and tactically. We are making sure that everyone is ready for it because we will need them, especially with the injuries we had in the international break,” he explained, before revealing that it is not yet known how long his captain, Odegaard , will be out .

“We have to see how things progress next week, how the ankle reacts and then the team will let me know how long the break will last,” he said, also commenting on the injury to the opponent’s starting attacking midfielder, saying that Pep Guardiola could easily replace Kevin De Bruyne .

“No [it’s the same], because they have the option, if he doesn’t play, of Gundogan , Bernardo , Phil Foden and Kovacic . They are all world-class players. We are also missing some and we have to adapt, but certainly those types of teams don’t depend on one single player, which is extremely important for them,” he concluded.