Arteta tells Arsenal squad to train harder to earn minutes

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 19:43 · Archive

Mikel Arteta has told Arsenal players struggling for first-team minutes they need to 'train more' rather than blame lack of match rhythm. The manager said he will not accept excuses about performance levels.

When it was suggested that midweek performances could have been down to limited game time, Arteta responded sharply, saying: 'They need to train more then.' He continued: 'What I don't want is an excuse. No but when I play I lack rhythm. Yeah? So what do we do then? We send you on holidays? So you play, you have to be available. When you don't play, you have to make sure that you do everything you can to impact the team.'

Arteta warned that other players might also make excuses if those struggling for minutes were allowed to. He said: 'Because otherwise the other ones that are playing, I don't perform because I'm tired. So then it's always an excuse. I hate excuses.'

The Arsenal manager has assembled one of the deepest squads in European football, with signings including Ezri Konsa, Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis in the summer. However, he has a clear first-choice starting XI when fit, with seven players starting all six Premier League games so far this season.

Arteta tells Arsenal squad to train harder to earn minutes — Image: BBC Sport

Comments (0)

How it is being reported

Arsenal substitutes change game - ArtetaArsenal manager Mikel Arteta says their substitutes changed the game as they beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the Premier League.BBC Sport · 18 Oct, 19:31
Mikel Arteta explains Eberechi Eze substitution as Arsenal star spurns opportunityNo10 was hardly involved in narrow Arsenal victoryEvening Standard · 18 Oct, 19:24
‘Train more’ – Mikel Arteta sends brutal message to Arsenal stars not getting minutesArteta is not interested in excuses (Picture: Paul Marriott/Shutterstock) Mikel Arteta has told any member of his squad struggling for first-team minutes that they need to ‘train more’ with the Arsenal boss not interested in excuses about match rhythm. The Gunners have assembled one of the deepest…Metro · 17 Oct, 08:11

In this story: Mikel Arteta · Arsenal · Viktor Gyokeres · Mikel Merino · Christos Tzolis

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem