Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend with a trip across London to face West Ham.
Gunners boss Unai Emery has fielded the media’s questions ahead of the top-flight clash, discussing his injury situation and January transfer plans.
The Spaniard remained coy on specific targets but has revealed the club will only be able to sign new players on loan this month.
Emery also offered an update on Aaron Ramsey amid fierce speculation the Welshman is set to join Juventus.
Here’s every word from the Arsenal chief at his pre-match press conference.
On Aaron Ramsey
“It’s an individual situation rather than the team.
“My idea and focus, I say to him every day, is that we need his performance for us. In the last match I was very happy with him.
“I asked in the last match at Blackpool if he is okay to help us play and he said, ‘Yeah, coach, I want to play’ and he played with a very big behaviour and commitment to us.
“After, his future belongs to him, his family and agent. Every day he’s here with us, he’s working very well. I want his behaviour and his focus to be on West Ham on Saturday.
“My last conversation with him is very important. We both spoke about the situation with respect from him and from us. His response has been a very good response in training and matches with good performances.
“I said to you before that I want to see Aaron Ramsey with this focus and these performances when he’s playing. This week for example, he’s been the same.
“He’s working and training very well with good experience. When I look at every player and they’re training like Aaron is this week, I feel calm ahead of the next match because the players are all focused.”
On West Ham under Manuel Pellegrini
“He’s a very good coach, with a lot of experience and here he’s won the Premier League with Manchester City.
“I know he needs time to create his idea with the team. I think they are improving and they also have good individual players with quality, like [Felipe] Anderson, like [Marko] Arnautovic – who are very good players.
“They are playing at home with their supporters and that’s difficult for us. Each away match is a very big challenge for us to find consistency and progression with our way. Saturday is a new challenge. We are very [convinced] to play and to give big work in finding our victory.
On team news for West Ham clash
“This week they are working with us with, [Shkodran] Mustafi, [Nacho] Monreal and [Hector] Bellerin.
“Tomorrow we need to do the last training before the West Ham game. This training session is important [to work out who can play].
“Mesut Ozil is also training with us and [Konstantinos] Mavropanos for the past 10 days, who can help us in the next matches and start playing with the under-23s.”
On January transfer news
“I can say to you that the club is working, the club is telling me the different situations in each moment. At the moment, we haven’t had any news today about that.”
On prospects of permanent signings this month
“We can’t sign with payment for one player. We can only loan players.”
On Ever Banega
“I know this player, he is a very good player. Now I can’t say more.”
On Denis Suarez
“I don’t know now his situation. But we can only sign on a loan and I know the club is working for the possibility of players who can help us with this condition.”
