Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side have got off to a superb start in the Premier League and Europa League. The 3-2 victory against Liverpool on the weekend made it 24 points out of a possible 27, and they look a threat to any side that dare to face them on their journey to Champions League football again.
It's no doubt that the ambience in the changing room is a contributing factor to their success on the pitch. Arteta mentioned that the atmosphere in the dressing room was "Phenomenal. I have never been in a better dressing room."
"More enjoyable, more hardworking, better relationships with the staff to players and it’s an absolute pleasure as a coach to be a part of this group."
Club captain Martin Ødegaard also talked to the media as he returns to Norway, hoping for some minutes on his home soil. He agrees with Arteta and says that, "I’m really happy to be part of this team and happy with where we are at the moment, but we want more of course."
Arteta described the Bødo fans as 'very loud and passionate', whereas Ødegaard was delighted that he saw some supporters that had come out to see him from Norway.
"I saw a lot of Arsenal shirts, it’s good to see this reception and hopefully we will see them tomorrow and hopefully the atmosphere will be brilliant again."
"I think the fans here are really good, they did a good job at the Emirates as well so I’m looking forward to the game and the atmosphere."
Bødo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen was asked about the 23-year-old Norwegian and he was full of praise for the national team captain, labelling him a "high-class player" with a lot of talent.
Fans making the 1000 mile trip to Bødo will know the conditions that the Gunners will be forced to face; not only does it lie on the perimeter of the Arctic Circle, but the Aspmyra Stadion hosts an artificial pitch to deal with the weather conditions.
Arteta shut down any claims of a disadvantage with the pitch reinstating that, "What we think about is how we are going to win the game. That’s it.
"How we win every three days, in different conditions, in different contexts, in different weather, in different competitions, and that’s the only way we are approaching it."
Ødegaard also followed suit, mentioning that, "We are not going to focus too much on the pitch, obviously it’s different and we have to adjust a little bit but it’s still football, it’s still the same rules and we are going to go out to win the game."
The Arsenal manager also hinted at some team news and that there are 'a few players injured', of what we know Alex Zinchenko is out with a muscle injury, Emile Smith Rowe is absent until at least December and Mohammed Elneny is hoping to return soon.
Arsenal's star frontman Gabriel Jesus was excluded from the travelling squad, with Arteta assuring the media that it was for a rest saying that, "We felt that with everything he’s been through in the last few weeks that it would be better for him to stay at home."
On Aubameyang's comments
From the current striker to a former striker who knows exactly how it felt to be excluded from a squad. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's name was doing the rounds on social media again, not only has he been firing for rivals Chelsea in the Champions League and Premier League, but been firing shots at his former coach in a video that surfaced online. He stated that Arteta 'couldn't control big name characters', as hinted by his treatment of the Gabonese forward illustrated in the Amazon Prime documentary released in the summer.
Arteta was approached for a response to the matter and said that, "People are free to discuss what they want." Aubameyang did go on to apologise to any Arsenal fans he upset with his comments as seen in the tweet below.
It will be interesting to see how the Gunners fare off in the cold conditions, and whether they will succumb to it like Jose Mourinho's AS Roma side did in their 6-1 defeat last season. However, the reverse fixture was a good sign for Arsenal with the likes of Eddie Nketiah and Fabio Vieira impressing who will be key figures to look out for on Thursday evening.
Arteta was full of respect for the Norwegian outfit, mentioning that "what this team and this coaching staff has done in the last few years is remarkable."
"Especially in Europe, because it’s got more headlines to the rest of Europe, but without a question of doubt, the scores that they’ve had here explain themselves."
He has highlighted them as 'contenders for top of the group' and says that his side 'face a difficult test' as they approach their third Europa League match of the campaign.
