Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta addressed the media ahead of the team’s Premier League season opener against newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium, scheduled for kick-off at 20:00 BST.

Here are the key highlights from his news conference:

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• Arteta confirmed that forward Bukayo Saka and midfielder Declan Rice are “ready to be involved” in the match. However, he stated that defender Jurrien Timber has not trained with the team and may be ready “in the next few weeks.”

• When asked about Bruno Guimaraes’ injury status, Arteta said, “let’s see how it is.” He noted that the summer signing brings “new energy” and adds competition for his teammates.

• Arteta expressed confidence that Myles Lewis-Skelly will “100%” remain with Arsenal at the end of the transfer window. He highlighted the importance of academy players who “feel the love and connection with the club,” stating they contribute something unique.

• Addressing expectations for the upcoming season, Arteta remarked that he does not feel he has a target on his back. He said, “we start from scratch and we’re going to have to prove we have the level to go back to that position again,” emphasizing his desire to be in control of Arsenal’s future.

• On defending their title, Arteta stated, “We will find out. We haven’t done it before so I can’t really tell you.” He emphasized the team’s ambition to improve upon their previous performance, highlighting the potential for growth within the squad.

• Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of having discussions with players about leaving the club, stressing the need for honesty and transparency during such conversations.

• Praising Coventry City manager Frank Lampard, Arteta said, “What a player he was. He was one of my favourite midfielders by far.” He pointed out their mutual passion for the game as a factor in their recent successes.

• Speaking about Coventry City, Arteta commended the club’s remarkable journey back to the Premier League under Frank Lampard’s leadership, stating they have “earned the right” to compete at this level and display “courage in every game.”

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Friday’s Premier League opener against newly promoted Coventry City at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

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• Forward Bukayo Saka and midfielder Declan Rice are “ready to be involved” but defender Jurrien Timber has not trained with the squad. Arteta said the Dutchman may be ready “in the next few weeks”.

• Arteta said “let’s see how it is” when asked about Bruno Guimaraes’ injury. He added that the summer signing brings “new energy” but also competition for team-mates to prove themselves.

• Myles Lewis-Skelly will “100%” remain an Arsenal player at the end of the transfer window. Arteta added that academy players that “feel the love and connection with the club bring something else”.

• Arteta said he feels he does not have a target on his back because “we start from scratch and we’re going to have to prove we have the level to go back to that position again”. He added: “If you give me the choice, I want to be first, I want to be hunted and I want to be in control of our future rather than depending on somebody else.”

• On how hard it will be to defend their title: “We will find out. We haven’t done it before so I can’t really tell you. The desire and ambition is to be better than what we were last season, a month ago or last week when we played Manchester City. We have the ability to improve, to evolve. That is what I sense and feel around the club – and especially around the players.”

• Arteta said it is “really tough” to have discussions with players about leaving the club, adding: “We need to face that reality, but I think you need to face it with real honesty and transparency because when you are on the other side, that is exactly what you need.”

• On coming up against Coventry boss Frank Lampard: “What a player he was. He was one of my favourite midfielders by far. Why? He could produce – he could do absolutely everything.” He added that what has made both managers so successful in the past 12 months is that they “share the passion and love for the game”.

• On the Sky Blues: “What they’ve done as a club is remarkable. What Frank has done is incredible. After so many years without being in the Premier League, they earned the right to do that and they’ve earned it in a really special way. Not only that, they absolutely deserve to be where they are. I love the way they play and the courage that they show in every game.”

Follow all of Thursday’s Premier League news conferences

Got a question about Arsenal? Get in touch here and we’ll seek answers from our experts