Mikel Arteta said he was happy to have Arsenal co-chaiman Josh Kroenke visit the training ground ahead of the midweek fixture.
Arteta addressed the media ahead of Arsenal’s clash with PSV in the UEFA Champions League. The competition marks what is effectively the club’s last hopes of securing silverware as the Premier League title dream has fizzled away.
The pressure has mounted week by week on the manager as it feels like a new player is lost in the same time frame. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are all missing and will be still for some time and in the case of the two centre-forwards, for the rest of the season.
However, Arsenal were granted a rare weekend off from Premier League and domestic cup action to prepare for the game. With no new team news to discuss, Arteta gave an insight into what the side had been up to.
“Well, because of the schedule that we had, give some players, most of the players, some time off as well after the last game that we had and then lead the preparation that we normally do,” he said. “It’s true that we have more time, so we focus a lot of things on us as well and not having to do just game plans and a very short training session related to what’s going to happen in the game. So that was very useful.”
Josh Kroenke was spotted at the Arsenal training ground too and Arteta was asked about his arrival. It comes at a pivotal moment with discussions and reports circulating that Andrea Berta is a key candidate for the sporting director role.
