Arsenal latest news: Arteta's contract agreed | Odegaard hopes | Captain Saka | Nwaneri's chance

Intro hello everyone Charles wats here welcome back to inside Arsenal but is Thursday the weekend is drawing ever closer I hope you're having a good day wherever you're watching or listening to this around the world all I is now firmly focused on the Tottenham hotb Stadium on Sunday for the first North London Derby of the season huge game especially for Arsenal going into it on the back of such uh uncertain news in terms of their Midfield and there some of their players who are out anyway you know can they make a statement can they go to Tottenham against the odds almost and get a result that would be huge huge for Arsenal so we'll talk about that a little bit later on in the show but we've got the massive massive Breakin news this morning that Mel artetta has agreed a new Arsenal contract so we're going to talk about that as well as well as react going through some of what you've been saying in relation to discussions we've had in the last couple of shows especially in terms of myself and James Ben's discussion yesterday about the north London Derby and whether Ethan weri might well be thrown into the deep end by Mikel Etta in the absence of Martin odard but let's start on the big Arteta's new contract news Mikel artetta I understand has agreed a new threeyear contract with Arsenal that announcement will be coming pretty pretty soon um as far as I'm aware and look it was always going to happen I've sat here for a long long time and whenever anyone's asked me about this and whether they should be worried and everything like that was always saying no this is something that's going to be done he was very happy arsenal were obviously very happy and the relationship between everyone between the club between artetta the people above him are all very very good and he was always going to stay he was always going to sign this new contract but it is still very very nice to have it done to have it greet agreed and to soon have it announced because it just ends any sort of uncertainty I've spoken about it many many times that if it were to this were to run on a little bit into the season every week I've been there before I remember when it was um arson Wenger coming towards of his end of his contracts and i' be sitting at London Cony in press conferences week after week after week and every single time it would always be when you sign a new contract is your contract happening and it just became this big thing and as much as Arsenal and Wenger at the time tried to deflect away from it inist it wasn't creating any sort of uncertainty at the club it always felt like it was and so to have this done now for artetta and have it signed and done and agreed it just ends that there's going to be no questions about that all the focus can just be on football now there no there was never any expectation that he he was going to go you know all the summer signings the first thing Mel Mourinho for example coming over from ra Saia D that is not a move he would have made if he didn't have assurances that Mel artto was going to sign his new contract he wouldn't have come over over you know he rejected chances to go to stay in Spain to potentially go to Barcelona Atletico Madrid because he wanted to come to Arsenal and he wanted to work under Mel arteta and the first thing him and his agents would have been saying was look you've got under a year left on your contract are you going to stay the fact that he still made this move you know there's always definitely assurances would have been given to new signings that he was going to be stay and I mean Mel admitted it himself when he spoke last time when he was asked about the contract you could tell in his arm and the way he the way he gave it you know he he spoke very warmly about how we felt at the club and he said look once the transfer window's done then we're going to really focus on on the contract and getting it done and he made it pretty clear at that point to I think that was again to try and end any s sort of uncertainty it was like look it may not be done yet it may not be agreed yet but it's going to be done and he'd been true to his word transfer window shut you know not so long ago and now we're going to be soon getting the announcement that Mel artetta is staying at Aral and it can only be a good thing for the club I know there's some of you out there who I see it I see it in the comments who are I to you know get him out he shouldn't be here anymore he's you know the transfer window was a joke I I mean everyone's got Everyone's entitled to their own opinion of course they are I understand that but I don't actually understand that thought process behind that you know I think these next three years are going to be massive for meleta I'll explain why you kind of look at the work that's been done now and all the work since he took over but by the time this three-year contract is up he's going to been at Arsenal eight years I mean that is a that is a long time especially in this era of football if he stays for the duration of the three years I mean that basically takes him up to be a proper long serving Arsenal manager if he gets to eight years but you look at the work that's gone on when he arrived arsenal were awful put it that way they're in a dreadful State Squad was awful the wages were ridiculous paying players that they should not have been paying and for the last five years that he's been at the club he's overseen a huge overhaul he sorted the squad out into now is one of the most valuable squads in World football Pack full of young exciting players on long-term contracts who every other club in the world would want to sign and the building blocks have all led to this point he's laid the foundations the foundations are very very strong now I mean they could have won titles they probably you look at the last two years they should have won at least one of the titles in the last two years um but they've been at the point they've got to the point now where they are perennial title challenges and that's all the good work that's gone on in The Last 5 Years of writing the wrongs of previous um decisions that have been taken at the club to lay this Foundation where you're suddenly looking at Arsenal as I said with one of the most valuable squads in the world with um just everyone pulling in the same direction which is just worlds apart from where it was when he came in he's done all of that hard work not just him but the whole club have done that done that they've aligned themselves together and built this really solid foundation this solid base I think the these next three years for our T are going to be absolutely huge in terms of I don't know if you want to say finishing his story because to be honest if he does really really well then I hope he signs another contract three years down the line and we carry and we carry this on but that he is now at the point where it is time to try and take advantage of the brilliant work that has gone on in the previous five years you know now is the time to start winning and to start really get trying to pack full the trophy cabinet with some trophies and some success because ultimately that's what he's going to be judged on this is Arsenal Football Club you got to win trophies because that's what they've done their entire history and that's what they're trying to do now it's always it's obviously very easy to say that it's a lot harder to actually do it in practice because you're going up against an incredibly difficult team in Manchester City when it comes to winning the title you're going up against City and the best that Europe has to offer when it comes to winning the Champions League a trophy Arsenal have never won in their history if you include the European Cup in that so it's not it's easier said than done I'll go and win trophies now because it's very very hard to win trophies it's the hardest thing of football but Arsenal are good enough to win trophies this squad is good enough to win trophies I'm absolutely vinced of that like I said they probably should have won something in the last couple of years but that's why I just think these next three years are going to be so crucial to whether it's how mikel's remembered or or whatever I just think now is the time to win all the hard work has been done in the foundations and now is the time to take advantage of that and get this team over the line and it's what he wants you ask Mel artetta it and you know he's his sole Focus now is on winning trophies is on getting Arsenal to the very top of English football European football that's what he wants to do that's what he thinks he can do he wouldn't have signed this new contract if he didn't and I can just I just sit fingers crossed and hope that he does do it but my so my honest opinion and I'm sure you know you know I'm an artetta fan I think what he's done is fantastic and I'm delighted that he signed this new contract um I know others are aren't and I accept that it's each to their own opinion but I'm personally delighted that he signed his contract because I think he's the best thing for Arsenal right now and I think he can get Arsenal Over The Line I really am confident that he can get Arsenal Over The Line in these next three years and get them what we all want which is either a Premier League trophy a Champions Le trophy or both or anything like that so yeah let me know your thoughts on it all we are be down at London County tomorrow for Mel's press conference that's due to kickoff at 1:30 tomorrow um I'm sure that you know this will be a big topic of conversation when we're all there this new contract for him so it' be interesting to see what he has to say there but let me know your thoughts on it are you happy are you like me do you think this is a good thing for Arsenal is now the time that he has to win it is this a contract where he has to bring significant silverware to the club if you're unhappy at that decision to for him to sign a new contract let me know why in the comments below I'll bring them all together and I'm sure tomorrow morning in the show before I go to London Cony that I record we uh we'll go over some of what you have been saying about this new contract for Mel arteta okay moving on to the game on Early Odegaard hope Sunday of course we're still waiting for news on Martin odard Arsenal yet to announce anything officially in terms of the captain there are suggestions that the early signs with odard are hopeful and that it might not be as bad as it could have been like I said yesterday when I reported what Norway team doctor had been saying he said you know three weeks minimum anything of anything anything you know three weeks is a bonus basically it could be longer but it doesn't look like there's a fracture Arsenal is still assessing odard day today he had another scan yesterday I believe and they're assessing those results as we speak the problem is at the moment the ankle still very very swollen by all accounts and so the scan results are not perfect sometimes you have to wait for the swelling to really go down when you do the scans to really determine the true extent of the damage but there are suggestions at the early signs when it comes to odard his injury is that it might not be too bad and Arsenal are pretty hopeful that he could be back sooner rather than later and it might not be the lengthy layoff that many of us were play were obviously expecting when we saw the pictures of the injury and how he left the field against Austria but uh we'll wait and see on that again as I said I'll be at London Cony tomorrow be interesting to see if Mikel artetta opens up on it a little bit more in terms of when odard will be back look I think we're all accepting he's not going to be involved against Tottenham of the weekend I think that's pretty pretty clear Gabrielle Jesus I don't as far as I'm aware from conversation on that it hasn't been ruled out yet of Sunday the plan was for him to return to training this week um and if that is the case if that has happened then he's got a chance for Sunday again I'm sure Mel will give a little bit of an update there might even be some pictures or video footage from London Cony over the next 24 hours as well so that would be a boost if jayus is available even if he is though after missing so much football I can't imagine he'd be considered for the starting 11 at the weekend but still if jayus is back and in the squad that would certainly be a little bit of a lift given we're all expecting um Martin odard to indeed miss out Captain Saka I was thinking who's going to be captain on Sunday because obviously there's no Martin oard there's no deam rice I think it'll probably be Bea Saka wear in the armband on Sunday I would imagine um which will be a big moment for him of course obviously H he's wor the arm band before if you're watching on YouTube you can see a picture of him there wearing the armband um but to Captain your team your team and let's face it you know Arsenal are B's team um you know you've come through the club from a seven eighty old boy whatever it was when he first signed uh first arrived to lead your team out at a North London Derby at Spurs as a 23y old you know it's going to be a huge hugely proud moment for Baya sacka I can't I was looking at who else it could be in the team I you know I don't it's not going to be CRA it's not going to be Gabrielle it's not gonna be Ben White um yeah Tim I think the only other potential option if he played maybe would be georgino but um I think it I'd be very very surprised if it's not Baya Saka on Sunday captain in arsenal and um yeah I just think that'd be a fantastic moment for him and hopefully he can crown that moment with a go we scored there last season of course in excellent fashion he's caused the own goal the season before can't remember who it was he headed into his own net in the two-nil win the season before he's got a very good record when it comes to scoring against Tottenham it' be fantastic if he could add to that you know it's going to be a lot of um a lot of scrutiny I suppose is it is right word or responsibility on B's shoulders in the absence of Martin odard you'd say he's Arsenal's most creative player without odard in the team with that delivery he's got from the from the right hand side and so it's going to be a lot of responsibility on his shoulders I'm sure he'll step up because we know buas Saka we know what he's like he likes responsibility he's not scared of it look at what he did at the Euros in the summer on the back of what happened at the final against Italy last time out and yet he still stepped up took that penalty in the shootout against Switzerland scored you know that's just the kind type type of character he is and I'm sure he'll show that again on Sunday in the absence of um of Martin Your views odard Addy here has got in touch and he says why is no one talking about sacka playing as a 10 he's got the most assist of any Arsenal player in the last two seasons I think and play you could play Martinelli on the right I do feel Martinelli on the right would help him because he always had his head down and tries to play across with his weaker foot why not with his stronger foot sacker and Martinelli looks like a good mix really and you're not when you say no one's talking about sacka playing his 10 I think quite a few people are because I've seen it you're not the first person that I've seen who suggested it and I mean it would be an interesting option the only thing is if you doing that you me Arsenal going to be so disrupted anyway this weekend because of the lack of usual Midfield you know they're going to be there's going to be square pegs in round holes somewhere you're either going to be dropping Kai hav out of his natural position now and playing him in Midfield um you're either going to be tweaking the system of the formation and potentially playing party and georgino more as a pair rather than having a Midfield three now if you're doing that already and yet and then you're also moving you know you're rejigging your attack completely and playing Baya saaka in not in his usual position you're Martinelli across so he's not playing in his usual position You' you've then got it's not just uncertainty in the Midfield and a mix and match Midfield it's also a mix and match attack so you're disrupting things further up the pitch as well so I'd be a little bit worried about doing that I'm sure he could do it we've seen buy he's great when he cuts inside on that left foot and gets into those Central areas we've seen it before and he does link up so well with say Ben White on the overlap so it's definitely an option but I'd just be a little bit concerned about doing too much moving too many um things around when you're going to have to do that in Midfield as well uh here's one from hardic who says Hey Charles looking at the current situations um looking at the current injury situation at Arsenal would you take two draws against Spurs and Cissy now lots of people have asked this question and it's one it's a no-win situation for me because if I say yes and everyone's like oh you're so defeated it won't be good enough youve got to win two games would I be devastated if Arsenal Drew at Spurs and Drew at Manchester City no wouldn't I think if you draw with the issues that Arsenal have got the moment the absentees they've got if they go to the etti had at this stage of the season and do not allow Man City to win and move three take three points off them I there's no way you can look at that and say that is not a good result for Arsenal absolutely not you look at the issues they've got now going into the Spurs game and again I I could not sit here and say a draw is going to be a bad result for Arsenal I don't want a draw I want to win of course I do but I don't think it'd be a bad result if arsenal were to walk away with two points from these these two games avoid defeat in both I think given the situation it would just be like right that's not a bad job done just move on get your players back and really kick on I think the crucial thing is not letting City get too far away and what is a difficult time for Arsenal at the moment because of the injuries and the disruption they've got you don't want City to suddenly move miles away so if you can at least take points of them in that game get a draw don't let them move another three points ahead of you that wouldn't be a bad thing so look would I take it I wouldn't say no but obviously I would much prefer it if Arsenal could go you know if Arsenal got four points from these two games I would absolutely take that 100% if they could beat Spurs or even better than that draw at Spurs and then go and beat Manchester City 100% I would be all over that but I wouldn't be overly disappointed with with two draws I have to say because I'm a little bit worried going into these games with such a with so many players out and so much uncertainty in terms of who is going to play where now we got a couple of you here Nwaneri's chance responding to what my myself and James in inside arsal extra time we're talking about yesterday we were debating the weri decision Ethan wer decision fac Mikel artetta in the absence of Martin odard we were talking about whether throwing him in from the start against Tottenham would be a good thing um I mean both of us basically said look I don't think I I wouldn't be overly concerned if he did start the game I think I'm sure he could I'm sure he could handle it because we what we've seen from him so far suggests that he's not overall by any sort of situation but we were also saying that it it might be a might be the wrong game to throw him in from the first for his first start away at spurs in all that intensity when you've not got your experienced midfielders that you usually have around you um got a few a couple of reactions to that from King gar says Charles I don't comment on your show uh normally I'm going to add my view to the others the notion that there should be an ideal time to get weri involved in the game is nonsense odard is injured let weri play he's good enough to play it is undoubtedly a perfect moment for him to play and shine he is good enough yal has shown that youngsters can make a difference if arteta trust the youngsters this is his time to show us that he genuinely cares about developing young players Aleta should not only talk the talk but he should walk the walk give weri a chance the ballot Gunner says I feel um this is just been overly protective of weri the lad doesn't look like the kind of player who'll be phased by North London Derby he may not have a magnificent game but I don't foresee it breaking him give the lad a chance if both party and georgino play alongside him he'll have enough protection the not notion that party and georgino don't have the legs is just a myth it's very both of you very good points I think when you say though uh K the top one where says it's far to trust his young says this is his time to show us that he genuinely cares about developing the young players see that's the thing when you talk about genuinely care and developing the young players I think there's got to be a lot of a lot of um thought put into the fact of whether this is the right moment to play him in and I know yal is of often thrown up as the um as an example but you know that's he's almost a oneoff he's not the norm is he you know he's absolute once in a generation type player and who knows Ethan might be and this might be the moment that he really does shine if you give him a chance and as I said I wouldn't be against it I wouldn't go there and be disappointed I'd be excited if I got there and saw the team sheet on Sunday and one year he was playing absolutely I'd be excited about it and I would I would have no concerns that he might that he wouldn't step up and perform because as I said nothing seems to phase him so far and he seems perfectly at home in this type of environment but I do think a lot of consideration needs to be put into it as I explained in yesterday's show so um he wouldn't I don't think he'd be in the starting 11 that I would pick I've seen you know the starting 11 I had be a 42 31 and I'd have party party and georgino I'd have H's playing as a 10 sacka Martinelli and trar that would be the starting 11 I would go for for this game personally but I would as I said I would have no issues with wer um starting and it would be great if he did and it would be a huge moment for him and it would certainly be a big show of Faith from Mel artetta as well right that's it for me everyone thank you very much for your time as always I really do appreciate it like I said I'll be back in the morning to talk things um all over again go and if you do want to get involved in that show give me your thoughts to our Teta agree new Arsenal contract let me know in the comments below and I'll pull some of them together and get them included in that show until then have a fantastic Thursday everyone speak to you soon byebye