Mikel Arteta, the head coach of Arsenal, held a press conference ahead of the match against Crystal Palace on Sunday as part of the Premier League fixtures, providing updates on player conditions and team strategy, in addition to his statements about set-piece goals and the importance of collective focus.

Regarding team news after the match against Atletico Madrid, he said: "There’s not much new; Gabriel had to leave the pitch due to an issue and has not trained yet. We will see in the next 24 hours how ready he is for the match."

On the long-term injuries (Mudryk, Odegaard, Havertz, Jesus), he added: "They are all improving and have started some training. They are very eager to return quickly, but they are not ready to play next week yet."

On the team's defensive record, he continued: "We want these records to translate into titles, and the more we produce, the closer we get to achieving our goals. The defensive record is excellent, but we must continue to improve."

Regarding Eze's match against his former club, he noted: "It will be a special game for him due to his history with Palace, but the focus is on the team first."

On the team's four previous encounters last season, he confirmed: "If we want a different result, we must do things differently from last season. We know what Palace does and how they achieve results; it will be a tough match, but in front of our fans, we have a great chance to win."

On the strength of the team and player management, he said: "There is an emotional side to my connection with the players, but I prefer this situation to having a short squad like in previous years. We have created a strong and supportive environment, aiming to compete in every match."

On facing Crystal Palace's Mateta: "First, we need to understand the team's style and organization, then try to stop the source of danger. In individual situations, he knows how to be effective, and he has been successful in that recently."

On Victor's performance after scoring two goals against Atletico: "We didn’t need to talk; we embraced him and enjoyed his happiness after the match because he deserves it."

On goals from set pieces: "I see the game as a whole; I don’t differentiate between open play and set pieces. We have worked on that for a long time, and we have started to establish a vision and a way to execute it professionally with the best people."

On the defensive aspect and drawing inspiration from Arsène Wenger's success: "I look back at football history; teams that achieve the best defensive records usually win the league. The stronger we are defensively, the greater our chances of winning matches."

On managing the team when everything is going well: "Nothing is perfect, and there is still a lot to improve. The important thing is to realize that the margins are small, and the more alert and eager we are to win, the greater our chances."

On the importance of the fans at the Emirates Stadium: "The fans are a key element; I want them to engage with the game with a certain behavior and appropriate body language. This creates a supportive atmosphere and intimidates the opponent."

On facing former players or friends: "There are emotions and history, but it increases the desire to win because the player made his decision here to be successful and achieve something else in his career."

On developing players and set pieces: "The goal is to develop players and give them tools to be more effective and versatile, like Declan, who has become one of the best set-piece takers and is becoming a well-rounded player."

On the new midfielder Martin Zubimendi: "He brings calmness and the ability to analyze the game quickly; he can find opportunities and hurt the opponent even when his teammates are away from the ball, and he can also add goals."

On the philosophy of play between set pieces and open play: "Football is connected; everything is related, and we must control what happens repeatedly in our favor, making it difficult for the opponent."

On patience in developing a style of play: "It's not just football; it's about using every opportunity correctly, developing the coach's culture, the environment, and the players in line with the style you want to implement."

On the possibility of breaking Chelsea's record for goals conceded: "In football, there are many unpredictable things, and we focus on what we do consistently. If we improve more, we will see where we stand at the end of the season. Our defense is strong and makes Arsenal a frightening team for opponents."