Premier League news conferences and team news LIVE: Arteta, Maresca, Alonso, Carrick speaking

Moving on now, we next have team news to come from Everton, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Ipswich and Crystal Palace…

Arsenal

Finally, Mikel Arteta was asked about news this week that Arsenal are planning to cut 60 jobs at the club:

“This question is not for me. I was explained about the exercise and analysis that has been done across the club with the intention to evolve.

“To improve, some decisions have to be taken to put people in the right roles and keep investing to achieve what we want to achieve and all the success we want to create, so that’s been explained.

“I’m not the right person to answer that question and hopefully everyone can respect that.”

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on his squad’s fitness ahead of Nottingham Forest:

“Piero [Hincapie] is involving really well and knowing his character and the way he pushes everybody, I’m sure he’s not going to take long I think, but he will probably need another week or two.”

On Martin Zubimendi’s fitness: “Zubi looks much better, he already looked much better today. We have another session tomorrow and after that we will assess whether he is ready for Forest.”

On Christos Tzolis’ fitness: “Doing really well. Yesterday he had another MRI scan to see how the injury is evolving. He’s progressing really well. Another one we can hopefully have back in a few weeks.”

On William Saliba’s progress: “Next week we have another MRI with him to see how the healing process is at the moment but every sign so far has been very, very positive. It will be great to have him.”

Arsenal

So Oliver Glasner is wary of “world-class” Arsenal and now Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is warning about “tough” nut to crack Nottingham Forest:

“We have responded really well in the last two games, two very good performances and results. Now we just focus on the game against [Nottingham] Forest that I know will be a really tough one.

“We’re going to try really hard to score goals and prevent goals. It’s going to be a really tough match, extremely well-coached team. We had that experience in the past and it’s a team that at home can create a really special momentum and we are ready for it.”

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner on the latest team news:

“[Nicola] Savona will still miss the game and Igor [Jesus] as well. [Nikola] Milenkovic trained [for] the first time today. Let’s see now how he reacts. He could be in the match day squad but let’s see because he’s now out for several weeks.

“Morgan Gibbs-White is doubtful. He could not train the entire week with us. It looks like he can join tomorrow’s session and he had an individual session today. He had a minor muscle injury at [Crystal] Palace. We have to see how he reacts today and deals with tomorrow’s session.”

Nottingham Forest

Oliver Glasner on whether his Nottingham Forest side can play to their strengths against defending champions Arsenal:

“It’s huge credit to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. It’s now a team that has been built over years and always at the beginning finding a core and then always adding the right pieces.

“It’s not just the quality, it’s also the mentality in how they play. I think in every game this season they were outrunning the opposition. It’s incredible. The effort, the mindset Mikel created there is incredible.

“This makes it so tough to play against them and you see it from every single player. They have so many world-class players they can react from the bench.

“It was now in the second consecutive game where the players who came on had a huge impact and this shows the quality they have.

“This is what we are facing and I think the structure how they are playing, everybody knows and analyses but the way they execute it makes it so difficult.”

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner on how his side can hurt Arsenal:

“No team has seven, eight big chances like we had against [Crystal] Palace [against Arsenal] but it’s possible to have two or three and then it’s on us to be clinical, taking the chances and then you have the chance to win the game.”

On how he encourages his strikers when they’e struggling: “Today the main topic was finishing in training and before the training I just told the players what we’re going to do and then I said the one who can explain it best how to deal with this situation is Chris Wood because I don’t know how many years [he has been] in the Premier League, and he’s scored almost 100 goals in the Premier League.

“Overall [he’s scored] around 200 goals in English football and he had to deal with these situations.

“You are in a flow and then it seems every chance is a goal and then [you have a run] where you miss some chances.

“I like what he said to the group. I said he could explain it better than me because I didn’t score many goals. I didn’t miss many chances because I didn’t get many chances.

“The key message, and I loved it, was ‘always be confident, never lose trust in yourself and there’s always another one around the corner’.

“That’s exactly how it is and I could see players start to smile and that’s how you best to deal with it.”

On to Nottingham Forest v Arsenal next.

Forest head coach Oliver Glasner and Gunners boss Mikel Arteta have both been talking this lunchtime…

I give up even the Leeds feel pity for us now this is horrific.

Alec, Wales

Leeds United

In terms of team news, Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke said winger Daniel James has a chance of returning from a back injury, while centre-back Joe Rodon is closing in on a return to full training.

“Progression, yes. Joe will still miss this game,” Farke said on Rodon.

“We spoke at
the beginning of this injury and it would last eight to 10 weeks. I think we’re at
week seven, so he’s edging closer. He’s doing good progress, it won’t last too
long until he’s back in team training but not yet and also not yet in
contention for this upcoming game.”

On James, Farke added: “Daniel James with his back problems also
missed games with the national team. Since yesterday he’s back on the pitch with
us.

“Right now, we have to wait to see how his body reacts but at least good news
with him that he’s back in training and he seems to be improving.

“The intensity in the last days was not too high, we have to
wait and see how his body reacts in the last two sessions before the game but
there’s a chance he’s involved, yes.”

Leeds United

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has said Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has done excellently this season and does not understand the criticism he has faced.

“When I think about Michael and young coaches, he’s done excellently,” said Farke.

“He did brilliant at Middlesbrough. After six games, he did not do awfully [at United this season]. They are mid-table or so. Obviously by their perception they want to be going for a title.

“You don’t need
to go for him as a young coach. What he’s done as a coach and as a player, he’s
done a tremendous job.

“I don’t think we’re heading in the right direction [criticising Carrick], it
won’t help in the right direction. I don’t like it, I don’t understand it.

“We
need to protect young British coaches, even though I am German I feel half
British. I think we should back [them] and be happy at someone with so much potential.”

That’s all for now from Xabi Alonso, we will bring you any more team news when we get it, over and above that line on Reece James’ knee injury.

We have already heard from Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, who faced a number of questions about his own future.

Sunday’s opponents are Leeds United – manager Daniel Farke has been sticking up for his opposite number…

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on their current rate of scoring is sustainable – 15 across their first six Premier League games:

“I hope so. Our goal is to keep doing that. We have talked a lot about not conceding that many. If we improve or continue the level of scoring and decrease the numbers we are conceding we will be in a better way, but we need to go game-by-game.

“Tomorrow will be tough, but we are looking forward to this game.

On tweaks made for their last match – a 5-1 win at home to Bournemouth game: “We want to be flexible but also solid whenever we are pressing high. We think the balance is the right one.

“We chose that way against Bournemouth, Everton will be different. They do many good things and have many good players with experience.”

Chelsea

More from Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso on who will replace Reece James as captain while he is out:

“We have Moi [Moises Caicedo], Levi [Colwill], we have players who take the responsibility and take the role in a perfect way.

“They have the support from the rest when they see them with the armband, so it is no bother.”

Chelsea

Xabi Alonso on whether he might need to sign cover for Reece James in January:

“I don’t think so, we expect by that time he will be back. It doesn’t affect [that].

“He is still a very important player. He is the captain, he is a great influence and hopefully after he recovers from this injury he will be available for many games.

“He has a good mentality and we need him.”

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso was asked about the knee injury suffered by captain Reece James, which has forced him to undergo surgery: “We are all disappointed, especially for him. He wanted to
have a good start after the international break, but he picked up an injury.

“The surgery has been successful. We are supporting him.

“I wish him the best recovery. We won’t set timelines, but we
expect him to be out for several weeks.

“It’s not going to be short. Whether it’s before or after
Christmas then time will tell. It needs to be done properly.

“We have a big squad to deal with injuries.We have four more games until the next break so I think we
can manage well with the players that we have.”

OK, we have news and quotes flying in from all angles now, so we are going to move on from Manchester United.

Next stop, Stamford Bridge…

Manchester United

If you are just joining us, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick appeared keen to draw a line under the furore caused by Lisandro Martinez’s criticism of the club’s hierarchy.

He says it is “done” and the players have moved on and Martinez would be part of the squad to face Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday.

Carrick was also adamant he was “telling the truth” when he told the media that the “squad today was in a fantastic place, better than I have seen in a while”.

The former United midfielder also brushed off concerns over his own future as manager – saying “it is not about me” it is about the club stressed he does not need results…the club needs results.

Carrick appears deluded, he’s happy we didn’t lay a glove on our opponents because we managed to avoid a mauling. I am lost for words.

Martyn,Warrington

Carrick is beyond deluded if he thinks anything about Utd is in a good place!

Simon, Risca

Manchester United

A final word from Manchester United manager Michael Carrick on a message winger Amad Diallo posted on his Snapchat story after Tuesday’s defeat to Atletico Madrid and Lisandro Martinez’s subsequent outburst.

Amad used an expletive and said it’s a “disgrace” – but did not explain exactly what he was referring to:

“It’s a situation where there are ways of doing it. It shows the boys care an awful lot. There are ways of doing it, they showed the emotion but we have to channel it in the right manner.”