Whether starting or coming off the bench, Arteta is proud of the fighting spirit and attitude Arsenal have shown.

The 8th round of the 2026/27 Premier League season will feature a key match, with Arsenal hosting Everton at the Emirates Stadium. At a press conference, Arteta stated that he was proud of the teamwork and fighting spirit shown by his players, whether they started or came on as substitutes.

With a crucial assist from Rice for Maduk's goal, Arsenal defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the last round of the Premier League. After securing their second consecutive win, Arsenal currently sit second in the standings with 18 points, three points behind leaders Manchester City.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said, "We have a lot of good options in our squad because the players have a very positive mindset. Whether starting or coming off the bench, the chemistry and desire to win that the players have built up makes me incredibly proud."

“Eze is a good example. He was probably a little disappointed when he was substituted at halftime in the game against Nottingham Forest, and he certainly was. But in the midweek game, he came on as a substitute and played an important role, which is exactly what we need. The bench can have as much talent as possible, but the key is that the players must perform when the team needs them.”

Arteta pointed out, "Incapie has been training with us and is available for this match. As for Martin Zuwemendi, he has had a few opportunities before, but then suffered an injury. There was indeed one match where he was almost fully fit to play and could play some minutes."

“From now on, he needs to earn his playing time through his performance. However, no matter what role he is assigned, he has always performed exceptionally well. I have this expectation for every player, and based on his current performance, he deserves more playing time.”

Regarding goal-scoring efficiency, Arteta said, "Odegaard has scored a few goals, as has Guimarães and Rice. We need them to play according to their position on the day, have the freedom to move forward and participate in the attack, and especially be aggressive enough to attack actively and create threats for the opponent."

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