MARCO SILVA, MIKEL ARTETA, BERND LENO, BOBBY DE CORDOVA-REID AND MANOR SOLOMON LOOK AHEAD TO SUNDAY’S LONDON DERBY.
Marco Silva
We know that we are going to play against one of the better teams in this country, because from the beginning of the season they are at the top of the table, they have been really consistent, playing good football, adapting really well and reacting well when they don’t achieve a good result – straightaway comes the reaction. A good example was after the defeats against City at home and Everton, two bad results but straightaway after they reacted well and won some important games. They are getting the maturity and the experience to react in the right way and it will be a really tough game for us, but we are going to do our best again to be really tough for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta
I’m really happy for [Willian & Bernd Leno]. When we decide that player is not continuing at the club, and they decide it’s better to move somewhere, you have to wish the best for people, especially those two that are really nice characters. We had a good time and experience with them.
Bernd Leno
I don’t have toxic [feelings] or bad energy for Arsenal. It didn’t end in the perfect way, but my reception at the Emirates was really good. I get fans coming up to me saying, ‘thank you for your four years… you were very good.’ I was really happy with my performances. Even when they dropped me, I did nothing wrong. I came through the front door and I left through the front door. I still have a connection to the club.
Manor Solomon
Arsenal are the best team so far in the Premier League. They are top of the league, so for sure it’s going to be a difficult game for us, really tough. They are an amazing team, but we know that we are capable of competing with them and matching them, especially at home. If we play our best football, I’m sure we can take something from the game. We believe in ourselves that we can do it. It’s a great occasion to play against the leaders, it’s always great to play against the best teams in the league. The Cottage will be sold out, which is great for us, and will give us the push that we need from our fans, and we hope that it will help us to get a good result, and we are looking forward to this game.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid
You always want to put yourself up against the best and, at the moment, they are the best. It will be an interesting game, when we played them at the Emirates it was a really tough game, one we could have come away from with something, but we didn’t. We want to get something out of this game. We understand they’re very good and they’ve got some really good individual players, but I feel like, in our stadium, with our fans, we can cause an upset. We have full confidence in getting a result. If we’re on our game and we’re all on the same page, we can do that, and obviously with the crowd behind us it’ll be a really interesting game.
