Arsenal vs Everton: Arsene Wenger pre match conference transcript ahead of Everton Clash

Arsene Wenger on Friday faced the media for his pre match briefing where he shed some light on the situation of
 Wilshere, Diaby, Wednesday night’s result and other issues. Below is the full transcript of his press conference. Enjoy.

Arsene, we can start with the team news and the updates on Aaron Ramsey and Mathiew Flamini please?

They come back into normal training today and tomorrow, and they are nearly there but not completely there. From Wednesday night, I don’t think we lose anybody, we have no major problem.

Is there any update on Jack Wilshere?

Jack Wilshere had a little surgery to take his two buttons off on his ankle because they were already irritating him, but it’s a very minor procedure. He will be out for a few days, yes.

 
So it was just to remove what was discomforting the ankle, and the ankle is fine?

Yeah, it was irritating his ankle, and they had to take it off.

Arsene, would you not solely refer to that as another setback for Jack?

No, it was planned to be done at the end of the season, and because he had an irritation with it, we decided to do it now and it’s a few days.

Can we see him maybe as soon as next weekend?

Next weekend will be quick, but I don’t know exactly but its days not weeks.

On injuries, you have a decision to make I guess regarding Abou Diaby. Any news on him?

No, I must say he progresses well in training, he goes step by step but he has not played yet, and he’s not in a position to play yet.

What about his contract?

I will have to talk to him soon, but I plan to do that in March.

Can we just get a more relaxed response to the result in the champions league?

Look, I think I said what I had to say after the game, and I maintain exactly what I said and I have nothing more to add. What is important now is to respond well, we are on a strong run in the championship, the premiership, and it is to respond to that disappointment in a strong way on Sunday afternoon, that’s all we can do.

What response do you expect from the players?

A strong one because it’s a different competition, we are back in the top 3 in the premier league, and we have an opportunity to stabilize this position, and we want to take it.

Per Mertesacker says it would require a miracle in Monaco, but I guess Monaco has happened hasn’t it?

Look, we are still in the competition, that’s what we can say, and we have a difficult task, but it’s still feasible.

It’s a bad week all around for English clubs in Europe isn’t it?

It looks a terrible week for English clubs in Europe yes.

Is there a deeper meaning to that?

I don’t have a rational explanation for that. At the moment it’s just a shock that hits us, and is there any rationality for that, I don’t know.

Arsene, is it additionally frustrating for you that you fight so hard season after season to get into the champions league, but don’t appear to be seeing any progression in it?

Look, we played all round 8 games in the champions league, we had fought very hard against Besiktas just to qualify, and you could see that Besiktas a good team, playing against Liverpool. So we won some important games. What is frustrating is that we go out in the last 16 in the last 4 years, but twice against the future winner of the competition, and this time we are still not out.

Is there a chance of Gabriel Paulista playing against Everton after the comments you made about the defense on Wednesday?

Look, I have not made any decision yet for Sunday’s game, I will have to rotate a little bit because we play Sunday, Wednesday. There will be certainly be certainly some changes.

Everton come into this game just after going through in Europe themselves…

Yes they have gone through, well done to them, but its 2 different competitions the Europa league and the premier league you know and we know that our strength at home would be vital and important to strengthen our position, and that’s why we have an opportunity against Everton and it’s an opportunity we want to take.

Is there any update on Mikel Arteta or Mathieu Debuchy?

They are still a few weeks away.

There is a report today that you were the angriest you’ve been in dressing room for quite some time after the game. Was that true?

Look, I don’t want to comment on the reports, and not on what happens in the dressing room.

How is Olivier Giroud like after the game?

He’s like everybody else, disappointed, there was nobody to blame individually, its not because he is a striker who did miss a chance. He had chances and he missed it, bad for us on the night, everything went against us and the fact that we missed some chances was only one of the characteristics of the night.

He seems from the outside someone who takes criticism to heart. Are you confident that it won’t affect him in the long term?

I hope not because he’s a strong character Olivier. Personally, I don’t blame him at all. We lost as a team, and we fight for each other a team, and he worked hard for the team even on the night and he didn’t miss the chances on purpose, he wanted to score the goals, but it didn’t happen.

Arsene, why does it always seem like every defeat for arsenal surprises, and every victory is a norm?

Look, we have to live with that, and I think what is important is to get the strongest points when you are a big club, and that means we are a club which interests many people, and that gives us a stronger responsibility, and of course where you come out from a disappointment, a disappointing game like Wednesday night, we don’t expect people to applaud, it’s absolutely normal that we get criticized.

Do you become more immune to it the following day; do you get bothered by what people are saying?

What is hurting is the defeat more than the criticism. I do not say I’m immune to it, but I love to win, and when I don’t win, I’m hurt of course.

Looks like the world cup would be a winter world cup in Qatar, would you be in in favour of a Christmas day, or Christmas Eve 23^rd?

I’m already everyday of my life for football games, so it’s no problem for me.

Would that be a good time, or would that impact too much on the festive season in England?

No, I don’t think it will impact too much if we have to reorganize the premier league. I just think always that if the world cup is successful, that is very important because it’s a world festival basically for football, and it has to be organized in decent condition, which would not be the case in the summer, and I’m personally glad that if we play the world cup in Qatar, it is not in the summer, because I would be concerned for people who attend there, and for their safety, and that’s why I think it was the only sensible decision to make.

Is it crucial that the fans stay by the team? Some of them left very unhappy about yourself on Wednesday night

Of course, you are not a fan for one game, you are a fan for the club, and you know no matter how good your team is, your club is, how big your club is, we play 55 games per year, and you have disappointing moments where you are disappointed, but I think we are third in the league, we are on a strong run, there is no obvious reason during a game not to go down as well. We want to finish the season strongly and keeping this competition well.

Has the race for the top 4 become more important?

Look, we are still in the champions league. Don’t throw us out too quickly