Arteta on injuries, motivation and 'phenomenal' Raya

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Brentford at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• William Saliba has a "little niggle" and believes it will be a "matter of days" that he is out, with midfielder Leandro Trossard in a similar situation. Forward Kai Havertz is "doing well" but still a "matter of weeks away", as is defender Gabriel.

• On Havertz, Arteta added: "He was doing everything. He could not go to the next level and now it's looking like we have unlocked that. We're all desperate to have him. He's a player that personally I love so much for what he brings to the team, his character, his personality. I see him suffer being outside. His playing record is phenomenal and I can't wait to have him back around the team."

• Asked about the injury situation this season, he responded: "The attitude towards it and the way the players are performing and giving absolutely everything they can to fulfil those absences has been the key of the season because we have had to deal with a lot already."

• On if the game on Wednesday is an opportunity for squad rotation: "It's an opportunity to be at the Emirates, bouncing and putting energy to win the game. That's the opportunity that we have. Like animals, everybody at the Emirates, to go again and beat Brentford. Vital. Massive."

• The Gunners boss insisted it will not be a challenge to motivate the players for this match because of "where we are in the league and what we are doing - I don't think we need any more motivation than that".

• Arteta knew midfielder Mikel Merino, who scored against Chelsea, could "offer much more than what he had" and, on him playing as a striker, added: "A player that has that amount of curiosity and the amount of questions he has, the way he loves his profession, it's difficult to put limits to that. When someone wants to grow every single day, they tell me they're hungry to win and to be part of something, that's very powerful."

• On goalkeeper David Raya, who signed from opponents Brentford in 2023: "An amazing goalkeeper and it's a great story as well how it happened because we tried to sign David much earlier, I think it was as soon as I arrived almost, and he had to wait for another two years. The start that he had and the journey that we had together, I think it's been phenomenal for us and we're very happy to have him."

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