Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media this morning as he prepares his side to face Burnley on Saturday.

The Gunners currently sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League and title race chatter was firmly on the agenda.

Here are some of his top lines:

• Gabriel Martinelli remains out for the trip to Burnley while defender William Saliba is a doubt
• Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke could all return for the north London derby after the international break
• The Arsenal boss was asked about the difficulty choosing a starting eleven at the moment and what it means to manage the likes of Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous
• Arsenal are not “unstoppable" - Arteta
• Finally, he was asked about the title race and how much it is discussed in the Arsenal camp

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football reporter

The debate around when Arsenal and Crystal Palace will play their Carabao Cup quarter-final match is continuing.

The Eagles are currently facing a severe fixture pile-up with the prospect of four matches in eight days after reaching the last eight of the competition.

Palace won 3-0 at Liverpool on Wednesday and have been drawn away to Arsenal in the week beginning 15 December.

Palace host Manchester City in the Premier League on 14 December, play KuPS at home in the Conference League on 18 December and travel to Leeds in the Premier League on 21 December.

BBC Sport has been told by sources that the dates under discussion are 16 or 23 December, with Christmas Eve (24 December) also an option.

It is understood that Arsenal's preference is to play the tie on 16 December.

The festive schedule is already extremely busy and representatives of both clubs will be aware of how crucial the recovery period is between games.

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Arsenal

Finally, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked about the title race and when he feels it begins: "For you, in pre-season already. For me, it's the first day of pre-season just trying to prepare the team and individuals in the best possible way because it is going to be so long."

On whether the players talk about it: "We have to focus on the journey and what we have to do every single day. Of course we want to win it and the preparation is towards that, great. All the protocols, processes, ambitions and everything and now you have to focus on what you have to do, otherwise you get distracted and I don't want any of that around the team."

On how the team have kicked on from finishing second several times: "Because at the end you learn that the margins to win it or not are multiple. It could be that the opposition player is one against one against a keeper - he scores and you are champion or the keeper saves it and you are not champion. It could be injuries, it could be decisions, it could be a mistake of mine. It could be that many factors that we cannot control. What we can control is what we do the best, that's it.

"A lot of factors have to go your way. You can do a lot of great things and still a lot of things have to go your way. Personal lives have to be perfect. There is so many things and there is still so long. We have seen already the turnaround in the league and the Champions League is the same. We are in a very specific context at the moment, so let's focus day by day."

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Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked if he feels Arsenal are 'unstoppable' at the moment: "No because you always have the sense of urgency and you see the complications and challenges that the next opponent is going to bring you.

"[We play games] every three days, with very little time to train and prepare, we always have to be like this.

"I see everybody on their toes ready for the next game and accepting that challenge and understanding that the opportunity is there to win again."

Paul: As an Arsenal fan, I have to take issue with Callum 11:20. Very winnable? Away to Burnley possibly, but away to Sunderland (form team) and away to Chelsea (depends which Chelsea turns up). Winnable yes, but definitely not going to be easy.

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on the fact that no promoted clubs currently sit in the relegation places and what that says about the strength of this year's competition: "More than ever the level is increasing, year after year. Better structure, better organisation, better decision-making from clubs and managers. Better players. It tells you the difficulty of that. When you look at teams and the way they have behaved - how they have earned points or lost points - it is because of small margins. That is the reality in this league."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on managing the likes of Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous: "When you are delivering good news it is so easy and so wonderful and you get an incredible reaction but in our job you have to give all kinds of news and messages and it is for the best of the team and maybe not for the individual.

"But you never know because some decisions you think are not good for you become the best decisions for your career.

"I have experienced that myself. So take them, make the most out of them and we will see what happens the next day."

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Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked whether picking his starting XI was becoming the worst part of his job:

"No I cannot say that. It is the worst part in terms of the decision with certain players when you don't allow them to play, which is the hardest part in our job. But they acknowledge that as well.

"At the end, when they make decisions - some good, some bad - I don't judge them on every decision that they make. We cannot do that. So the other way around, this cannot happen.

"At the moment, we are dealing with it in a really positive way and you can see the consequences to that in the impact that every player who is not playing is having when they have to play, in the way they are performing.

"The way you do that is by good preparation and a good mental state."

Arsenal

Right, we will return to Chelsea in a moment, but let's finish off with Mikel Arteta's news conference first.

Here's more from the Arsenal manager on Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz and whether they could be available for the north London derby on 23 November: "Yes, I am excited. They are tremendous players and I see them work every single day and how desperate they are to be part of the team. It will be such a huge boost for the squad to have them and to have those players available after such a long time, so I am very happy that it could be very soon."

Image source, Getty Images

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca faced more questioning on Liam Delap's red card, the club's disciplinary issues and set-pieces.

When it came to the six red cards in nine matches, Maresca was very precise with his language, clarifying his view that "some red cards they can avoid and some they can't".

Equally, he clarified his comments about Liam Delap on Wednesday night, having previously said the striker "plays for himself". The Italian said his language skills got in the way and he meant Delap is only focused on competing with the central defender and shuts off noise from the touchline.

Chelsea has had a poor record at defending long throw-ins and corners this season, which is high on Maresca's to-do list before facing Tottenham, who have excelled at attacking in these ways under new manager Thomas Frank.

Chelsea

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca on Liam Delap's red card against Wolves midweek: "I spoke with Liam. He knows everything. He is aware of the situation. Aware he made a mistake. Full stop. No more than that. He apologised straight after in the changing room."

On conceding six red cards in nine matches this season: "Some of the red cards we concede, we can avoid, some we can't. It’s something we need to learn, something we have to do better. In the future we’ll be better."

The same for avoiding yellows? "I don’t know."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Chelsea's inglorious 4-3 win away at Wolves in the Carabao Cup saw them through to quarter-final but has left people questioning the team.

3-0 up at half-time, the Blues conceded three in the second half and were subject to their sixth red card in nine matches, but Jamie Gittens' fantastic strike saw them through.

Returning striker Liam Delap is now banned for the upcoming match at Spurs, having been dismissed in his 26-minute cameo.

Chelsea remain capable of winning silverware and are just three points outside the top four but after losing to Sunderland last weekend, they could do with a positive result at their fiercest rivals Spurs.

We have a few more lines to bring you from Mikel Arteta, but let's also bring in Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who has been speaking before Saturday's match at Tottenham...

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked whether this season was now the perfect opportunity for his side to win the title: "It is a big opportunity that we have ahead of us but we have to continue with a level of consistency and we know how difficult that is. Tomorrow is going to be an extremely tough match for us and we are going to have to hit those performance levels to win the game."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on team news: "[Gabriel] Martinelli is still out. [William] Saliba we will have to wait and see because we have another training session this afternoon. The rest are getting closer but not available yet."

On how long Martinelli will be out for: "We aren't sure yet, but I think this game will come too soon."

On how long it could be before the more longer-term absentees - Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz - return: "I would say weeks. Some of them pretty soon, hopefully. If they keep evolving the way they are doing. After the international break I think we will have some back. I don't know if it will be all of them or some of them, but we will be quite close by then."

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Arsenal

Manager Mikel Arteta on momentum and his message to the Arsenal players: "[Keep the foot on the gas] and maintain the level of urgency. [Keep] the concentration, the focus and the ambition we are showing in every game. Every game brings different challenges. Sometimes we have to be very patient, some of the times we have to have a different approach."

On Saturday's opponents Burnley: "It is going to be really tough. They are well coached. What he [Burnley manager Scott Parker] has done with the club is formidable. When you look at all of their games - say the last five games they have played - they are a very tough team to beat."

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Let's move swiftly from one club in a buoyant mood to another.

Arsenal may not have completely clicked into gear in every aspect of their play so far this season, but are certainly motoring in terms of results.

The Gunners have 22 points from their opening nine games and hold a four-point lead over second-placed Bournemouth.

Promoted side Burnley are up next for Mikel Arteta's side on Saturday.

Let's hear from him now...

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