Despite rumours that Real Madrid wants Mikel Arteta to replace Carlo Ancelotti, the Arsenal coach is still totally focused on leading his team to Premier League victory this season.
On their quest for their first championship since the 2003–04 season, Arsenal sit five points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the English top division.
In his third season in charge at Emirates Stadium, Arteta has received high praise, and a Spanish source on Wednesday suggested Madrid would consider making a bid.
“It’s things that managers or players can’t control, what is written,” he said at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.
“What I can tell you is that I’m fully focused on what I’m doing here and extremely proud and grateful to do what I’m doing in this football club. That’s it.”
When Arsenal plays Sporting at Stadium Jose Alvalade on Thursday, Arteta’s attention will shift from the Premier League to the Europa League.
The Gunners have three of their six games in the next 18 days, but Arteta intimated he won’t try to rotate his team for the European match.
“We have one team and we have to play the games with the best possible players to win it,” he said. “There have been moments where we have made eight changes.
“We try to accommodate. Players have moments throughout the season where they’re available and when they’re not. For sure we will try to pick the best team to win the game.
“Of course everyone wants to play. It’s true as well when we’ve wanted to rotate players they’ve been injured and unavailable. Tomorrow that may be the case.
“Sometimes it’s been difficult and players have to deserve to play the minutes. Being fair in football is very difficult.
“You have to be really good at communicating your decisions to help players understand what you do, but all the time you have to think for the best of the team.
“We want everybody to feel important and we are going to try to make them feel like that.”
On the eve of the Sporting game, Gabriel Jesus took part in training, but Arteta didn’t reveal much when asked if the striker would make his first appearance since November.
“News on the squad will be tomorrow,” he said. “We have brought a few players and you will see who is available.”
When asked about the availability of Kieran Tierney, Leandro Trossard, and Eddie Nketiah, Arteta responded:
“Let’s see how they evolve.
“We’re trying to accommodate everybody and get them in the best position for tomorrow.”
