Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appeared at a press conference to talk about the upcoming match on Sunday against Newcastle, in the sixth round of the Premier League at St. James' Park.

The coach commented on the death of former Arsenal player Billy Vigar due to a head injury he sustained while playing for his team Chichester: "It's shocking news. I immediately thought of his family and how difficult it is to go through such moments. Our full support is with the family."

He added regarding Saliba's contract renewal: "I hope everyone in the world will soon be talking about his contract renewal, that’s what I wish for. It’s great to see so many players wanting to stay, Saliba is extremely impressive for his age, because we sometimes tend to forget that. This is due to his level of consistency and the way he has matured as a person. Year after year, he has built a strong partnership, especially with Gabriel, as well as with the rest of the defense and the goalkeeper. Every time I sit with a player and see their intentions, I find that they want to stay with us. We don’t take that for granted. This means the club is doing a great job in making players and the coaching staff feel valued."

Regarding the possibility of renewing Saka's contract: "I would definitely love that. He is a very happy player and proud to be at this club. Everyone knows how important Bukayo is to us."

He continued: "We want to be the best team in the Premier League (defensively), it’s a collective effort, it’s a team sport, and in everything we do, everyone has a role in it."

About Newcastle and the atmosphere at St. James' Park: "I always praise the work that Eddie (Howe) and his staff have done there. They have succeeded in creating a fantastic atmosphere and a clear identity for the team. It will be another tough match, and we know we will need to be more effective to win the game, and we will work on that over the next two days. The atmosphere at St. James' is incredibly beautiful. One of the best atmospheres in the country. They live every ball with you. The atmosphere is electric. It’s one club in one city. It’s a fantastic atmosphere to play in."

He concluded regarding the team’s condition: "I hope Martin Ødegaard will be available for the team’s match against Newcastle, and regarding the injury that Noni Madueke sustained, there is no new update."