Premier League will finally return in nine days now, and we have Arsenal visiting the Etihad in one of the two fixtures to kick off the footballing activities in England.
Mikel Arteta spoke about his emotional return to the City bench for the first time since taking over Arsenal recently, and as Pep had admitted – Mikel knows more about his team than he knows about Arsenal which will play a huge role in the fixture’s outcome complemented by the time Arsenal are to play City.
Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos spoke to Canal Sur Radio about it being a good time to face the Blues from Manchester when the pair meet next Wednesday as we mark the new normal for a considerable time when Premier League re-starts, “It’s not bad at all [to start] against City. I think it is a good time to face them and I think we have options to win.”
Its also a tricky time for Dani Ceballos, who is trying to impress Zidane over his potential to consider him at Real Madrid next season or the Spaniard would again have to leave Santiago Bernabeu to feel important and have a chance at Robert Moreno’s Spain for EURO next summer.
“When there are Euro Cups and the Olympic Games, you have to find a team where you feel important. But the future is now far away, we have been practically two months without playing, with uncertainty weeks ago, so predict what It will happen in a month and a half, not even the best fortune tellers know it.
“I will not deny that my team is Betis. It is the team that I love, the one that has made me grow as a footballer and professional. The feeling I have towards that club is different from all those in which I’ve been.”
Dani Ceballos could end up at Real Madrid post summer, or may even go back to Real Betis, or even be staying at Arsenal given he receives the backing of Mikel Arteta, who knows. In the same interview, Ceballos also spoke about his time at Arsenal and playing under Mikel Arteta.
“The year started with great enthusiasm, a new challenge, in a great club like Arsenal, with Emery, who gave me a lot of confidence. But in November, by playing every game, I was the only one who had played the previous 17, an untimely injury came, the first I have had as a professional, and it was quite serious, I was away for almost three months. Then when I had the opportunity I made clear my intentions to succeed at Arsenal.
“Just before the confinement arrived I was at a good level. With Mikel, he has a philosophy of play similar to that of City, I felt very comfortable, playing at a great level.”
