问：做出下一任队长的任命有多重要？
答：这很重要，但是对于我来说，领导小组的存在是非常有帮助的，因为可以听到不同的声音。更衣室现在是很文化多样的，需要很多的精力、不同的感受、不同的语言。这些都需要被涉及，我对此感到满意。
问：对于更衣室来说，（这个决定）造成了什么影响？
答：他们接受了这个决定。而且我认为他们了解，我们希望推动我们的文化和要求、和我们想成为一家什么样的俱乐部、和我们想如何代表这家俱乐部，到一个新的高度，这是因为（球员们）的尽心尽力和要求。
问：这对于阵容的领导水平是一个多大的考验？
答：现在的环境和体育都很难预测，许多事情发生了，每一天都会经历很多困难。但是（球员们）处理的非常好，你可以看到他们在球场上是怎么做的，他们在这个激烈的赛季对球队有多么重要。这就是我希望的，我希望他们承担责任。他们想成为球队的重要球员，不仅是在场上，也是在场下，包括我们做出决定的时候，他们需要参与进来，因为他们是其中重要的部分。
问：球队目前的身体状态如何？
答：其他人一直都很好，希望球员们能全都（新冠）检测阴性，由于联赛和国家里正在发生的事情，我们显然很关心这件事，但是希望每个人都能出场并且身体状态良好。
问：你怎么看西汉姆联这个赛季的状态？他们有没有让你印象深刻？
答：非常（印象深刻），在我看来他们是联赛最好的球队之一。现在这个阶段...他们球员之间的默契（很出色），他们想要做的事情很明确，他们能按自己的方式造成威胁，这些都令人印象深刻，并且他们很稳定。
问：你会不会考虑在一月份出售奥巴梅杨？
A: I can say right now that we have made this decision, unfortunately it's a really tough one and obviously if I had to choose I would not like to be sitting here talking about it but we had to do it. But for now, he is not involved in the squad.
答：我现在不能说我们已经做出了这个决定。不幸的是这一次很困难，并且很明显，如果我需要做出选择，我不想坐在这里谈论它，但是我们需要这么做。但是就目前而言，他没有进入阵容。

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看戏

问：他（奥巴梅杨）什么时候会回归阵容？
答：我现在能说的是，这（撤销队长）是一个很艰难的决定并且有很多需要消化，所以我们需要一些时间。
问：对他（奥巴梅杨）来说，有办法回头吗？（Is there a way back for him）
答：我现在可以说的是，做出这样的决定很伤人，现在也是，所以需要一定的时间来愈合创伤。所以就目前而言，他不在阵容中。
问：你会怎么形容你和奥巴梅杨的关系？
答：从我来到这里之后，一直都非常，非常好。所以这个决定才痛苦。
问：奥巴梅杨有对这个决定提出质疑吗？
答：没有。
问：他（奥巴梅杨）同意这个决定吗？
答：我不能在（我和奥巴梅杨之间）私人谈话上说更多了。我告诉你这件事情是怎么做的，这也是我做事情的方式，我们是面对面（这里用词其实是eye to eye，直译是眼睛对眼睛）的，就这样。
问：哪些球员能进入领导小组？
答：领导小组可以调整。球员可以进入或者离开。当他们和讨论的话题相关的时候，他们作为球队的一份子时，还有你需要他们成熟，或者参与到一件对于他们的教育很重要的事情的时候。我们有球员持续参与，也有其他一些时候他们（其他球员）参与进来，因为这是一个球队建设的事情。
问：这个新闻能够团结球队吗？
答：不幸的是，我们需要说明当前的情况，然后我相信把它放在那儿是更好的。我们有很多比赛要打，不管是现在还是三天以后，就算澄清一些猜测也不会改变这些，我们现在在做的就是尽量对我们做了什么保持透明。我相信在现在这样做是正确的，球队完全集中在备战明天的比赛。
问：如果奥巴梅杨最近状态良好，决定会不会不同？
答：没有任何疑问。
问：奥巴梅杨有没有道歉？
答：我不能谈论我和他聊了什么。
问：扎卡会不会成为新任队长？
答：格兰尼特（扎卡）是队长之一，是领导小组的成员，是我们的重要球员。

问：现在球队有新冠阳性案例吗？
答：没有，球员没有阳性。
问：奥巴梅杨是否已经踢完了他为阿森纳出战的最后一场比赛？
答：我能说的是就目前而言，他不在阵容里，他不会参与。令人难受的是，这就是我们做出的决定。
问：这是否和厄齐尔离开时的情形类似？
答：这是一个非常特殊的情况，首先球员对球队很重要，并且（考虑到）他的角色，还有我和他的关系，但不幸的是，这就是目前的情况而且我们需要面对它。
问：你是否预料到了这件事被宣布？
答：肯定的，我希望我能在这里谈论其他的事情，还有以完全不同的方式谈论奥巴，但是我们需要做出决定，我每一天都和俱乐部一起在尽力做出正确的决定，这就是我们在尽力去做的。
问：这个新闻会鼓舞球队吗？
答：我希望球队能了解明天的比赛有多重要，能眼睛里带着火出战。西汉姆和我们（在积分榜上）的差距并不大，明天我们将主场作战，在我们自己的球迷面前，我们希望能拿出好的表现和拿到好的结果。
问：足球会重新回到封场比赛吗？
答：过去的一周发生的事情都是令人担忧的预兆。因为这个原因，有比赛被取消或者推迟了，（英超的）球员和工作人员出现了很多阳性，这很令人担忧。
问：奥巴梅杨现在是否处在违纪状态中？
答：我可以说的是这个决定是因为在一些时候他没有尽到自己的职责，就这样。我们对每一个球员都需要有更高的期待和要求，这就是我们被迫做出这样决定的原因。
问：对于这个情形，你有什么不能谈论的吗？
答：我已经尽力去清晰解释现在的情形了。但是显然，有一些事情是私人的，我不能和你讨论。但是我认为你们都应该明白为什么——与其找借口，说出事实。因此我也需要补充，我认为这支球队、它的人员和支持者（都）需要（我们对发生的事情）公开透明，不管他们同不同意（我们的决定），（他们都应该）被告知事实，还有我们为什么做出这样的决定。
问：这对于球队和支持者来说会是一个新的开始吗？
答：我们需要对当前的局面做出应对，我们需要从尽可能里面得到积极的内容，而且重要的是我们明天有比赛。我们需要表现出我们有多在乎明天的比赛，而且我确信每一位上场的球员都会付出百分之百。

实话实说，阿尔特塔的实录很难翻译。我自己读的时候基本能明白意思，但是翻译出来并不是最理想的。我会把原文贴在后面。

Can you talk more about the decision?
I don’t have much more to say, I think it’s a real clear statement from the club. It’s a decision we have made following the last incident that we had with the players and this is where we stand.
How many incidents have there been?
I don't mind you asking but I can't go any further on that as you can believe. When we had to make that decision, it was because it was the right one to defend the interests of the football club.
Did you break the news to Auba yourself?
Yes, we did it, both the club having a personal conversation and myself having a face-to-face with the player.
Who will be the next captain?
Well we have the leadership group and we have different players who have been nominated to be captain, in the last game it was Laca, we had had Granit who has been captain as well, so we will follow that. It is a really unpleasant situation and it is not the moment to any rash decision. That leadership group is really strong, it is the one that communicates with myself and the coaching staff and with the club in a really strong and clear way and we are going to continue that. That is one of the decisions we make, to make that group a little bit better and try to educate them and try to get the right feedback all the time and build the trust and a strong culture around the club. It is working really well so we will continue to do that.

How important is the appointment of the next captain?
It's really important but for me having the leadership group is something that has been tremendously helpful because then you get different voices. It is a really multicultural dressing room that needs a lot of attention and different feelings ands different languages, they all have to be involved and I'm comfortable with that.
What's the impact been on the dressing room?
They accept the decision and I think they know because they have committed to it and they have demanded it, that we want to take our culture and our demands, and who do we want to be as a club and how we want to represent this club to a different level. When those standards are not met, you know you cannot participate in our daily basics.
How big a test will this be for the leadership qualities of the squad?
It is a really unpredictable environment and sport and every day is harder and harder to live with a lot of things that happened. But they are dealing with it extremely well, you can see what they are doing on the pitch, the amount of importance they are taking around the club and how vital they have been in our very close season. So that is what I want, I want them to take accountability. They want to be important players in the team, it has to be on and off the field and when those decisions are taken, they have to participate in that as well because they are a big part of that.

How is the team looking in terms of fitness?
The rest is always good, hopefully we had all the negative tests of the players and regarding that it is obviously a big concern with everything that is happening in the league and in the country but hopefully everybody will be available and fit.
What do you make of West Ham's form this season and how impressed have you been?
Very much, and for me one of the best teams in the league. This period... the understanding that they have, the clarity in what they want to do and how much they are able to hurt teams with the way they play has been impressive and they have been really really consistent.
Would you consider selling Auba in January?
I can say right now that we have made this decision, unfortunately it's a really tough one and obviously if I had to choose I would not like to be sitting here talking about it but we had to do it. But for now, he is not involved in the squad.

When will he be back in the squad?
What I can say for now is that, you can understand it is a lot to digest and a really difficult decision to make, so we need a bit of time.
Is there a way back for him?
What I can say now is to make the decision that we made is really hurting, and it is still like this and it needs a bit of time to heal. So for now, he is not involved in the squad.
How would you describe your relationship with Auba?
Since I have been here, really, really good. That is why it is painful.
Did Auba dispute the decision?
No.
Did he agree with it?
I cannot go any further about personal conversations, I tell you how it was done and it's the way I like to do it, eye to eye, and that's it.
Which players could come into the leadership group?
That leadership group can alter and you can have people coming in and out as well in relation to the topic you are discussing, the moment that they are living in the team and when you need them to mature or be involved in something that is going to be very important in their education and we have players there that are constantly going to be involved and other times they’re going to be participating as well because it’s a team-building thing.

Could the news unite the team?
Unfortunately, we have to be clear about the situation and I think it’s better to put it out there. The amount of games that we’re going to play now, whether it’s now or in three days time it’s not going to be any different to close any speculation and try to be transparent and clear of what we’ve done and I thought it was the right decision to do it right now and the team is fully focussed right now thinking that the game tomorrow is vital for us.
Would the decision still have been made if Auba was in good form?
Without a question of a doubt.
Has Auba apologised?
I cannot discuss what I have discussed with him.
Could Xhaka be the new captain?
Granit is one of the captains and he’s part of the leadership group and is a really important player for us.
Have there been any positive COVID tests at the club?
No, we haven’t had any players test positive.
Has Auba played his last game for Arsenal?
All I can say is that for now, he’s out of the squad, he’s not involved and sadly, this is the decision that we’ve taken.

Is the situation similar to Ozil's departure?
It’s a really particular situation, first of all with the importance that the player has at the club, with their role, with the relationship that I have with him, but unfortunately, this is the situation that we have and we have to face it.
Were you expecting to make the announcement?
For sure, I hoped I would be here today talking about something different and talking about Auba in a completely different way, but again, we have to make decisions and I’m here with the club to try and make the right decisions every single day and this is all we try to do.
Can the news inspire the team?
I’m hoping that the team tomorrow is going to get out there with the fire in their eyes and knowing the importance of the game. West Ham are within catching distance and tomorrow we play at home in front of our people and we expect a great performance and a great result.
Could football go back behind closed doors? Everything that happened this week is a really worrying sign. There are games that have been cancelled and postponed for that reason, players and staff members with really high numbers of positive tests. It’s really worrying.
Is there an ongoing disciplinary situation with Aubameyang?
What I can say again is that we have made this decision based on certain moments where he has not fulfilled his duties, and that’s it. That expectation and commitment that we need from every player, that’s at a different level. That’s why we were forced to make that decision.

Are there things that you can’t discuss about the situation?
I have tried to explain the situation as clearly as I possibly can. But obviously there are situations and private matters that I cannot discuss with you. But I think you all should know the reasons why - and instead of having any excuses - tell the truth. I would add consequently to that, I think that this club and it’s people, and every supporter needs transparency - whether they agree or not - to be told what happened, and (to be told) the truth and why we have made that decision.
Could it be a fresh start for the team and supporters?
Well, we have to deal with the situation right now, we have to make the most out of it and the thing is that tomorrow we have a game. We have to show how much we care about that game tomorrow, and I’m sure that every player that steps out onto that pitch is going to be on hundred percent committed.