07/03/2026
Arteta on being favourites for the game: "Yes, but I think I've been in this country long enough to understand that being favourites doesn't mean anything when it comes to that competition. At that time of the day, in that ground, I know that they're going to have the belief, the hope, the conviction that they can beat us, and we need to be very well prepared."
Arteta on motivating players for the game: "We have played very similar games now in other competitions or in the FA Cup as well, so we are very well aware of what the game is going to demand, so from [Thursday], we will prepare for that."
Arteta on Mansfield’s pitch: "It's normal. It's the beauty of this competition as well. You have to go there, you have to adapt. Since I was little, we've all been playing in those stadiums or worse, so you need to adapt to that context and make the most out of it."
Arteta on if the early kick-off presents a problem: "It is what it is, we know that. I've been here long enough, it’s nothing to do with us."
Arteta on if the pitch condition affects team selection: "It can do, especially if there is a player that is carrying some injuries that the pitch can affect him in the wrong way, especially certain muscles, but hopefully we're going to have the ones that we need fit and available."
Arteta on if losing in the FA Cup can damage confidence in other competitions: "It can, but hopefully we're going to do what we have to do and try to earn the right to win the game."
Arteta on if Saliba’s ankle injury was the same ankle as before: "No, it's the other one. We saw after the game he wasn't comfortable to finish the game and after that, straight away, he didn't have a good feeling. So let's see if he recovers quickly.
On his availability for Mansfield:
"I doubt it."
[Arsenal]
