Mikel Arteta interview: Arsenal manager urges his players to enjoy final weeks of the season with Premier League and Champions League title races
Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal players to “love” the noise and the pressure of being in the Premier League and Champions League finales – as he believes his team can get “very close” to lifting a first top-flight title in 22 years by beating Fulham, live on Sky Sports.
The Gunners could go six points clear of second-placed Manchester City on Saturday Night Football, though Pep Guardiola’s side will have two games in hand, starting against Everton on Monday night, which is also live on Sky.
Arsenal had a nine-point lead at one stage of the Premier League season, but a dip in form during April brought City back into what is effectively a neck-and-neck contest.
Many have claimed Arsenal are ‘bottling’ another Premier League title race after three straight second-placed finishes, but asked by Sky Sports how he wants his players to act in these crucial weeks, Arteta said: “I tell them: love it.
“If you want to win the Premier League and want to win the Champions League, what’s going to happen? You’re going to lose a match and they’re going to destroy you. That’s it.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his players have a hunger to win as they head into their final four matches of the Premier League title race
“You want to be there? Love to be there. When you win, love it. When you lose or you don’t play your best – and there’s going to be games where you lose the ball – love it. You will become better.
“There’s no other way. If you want to be at the very top, people are waiting there. It’s normal. It’s natural.
“And there’s only going to be one winner. The rest? Are they not good enough? Come on, if somebody believes that then there’s something wrong.”
How does Arteta deal with the noise?
Arteta was also asked how he deals with the stress of a Premier League title race.
The Arsenal manager also highlighted how he only opts to listen to criticism from those who want the best for the club – and that any other opinions are worthless.
“In my [playing] career I never read so much – especially from people who did not want the best for us,” said Arteta.
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Paul Merson says ‘nervous’ Arsenal are a tough watch as the hunt for the Premier League title continues.
“I’m really curious. When somebody wants the best for me and has an opinion, I open myself up and be ruthless. No pain and I gain a lot of things.
“But I really need to feel that the person wants the best for us, the team and the club. If that’s genuine, that’s great.
“But if it’s somebody who’s there to damage you, with no purpose, then I don’t think they’re worth your time.”
‘Beat Fulham and we’re very, very close’
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Jamie Carragher believes Fulham possess the ability to pose a stumbling block in Arsenal’s charge for the title.
The Premier League title race is very, very close – and it will come down to goal difference if both Arsenal and City win their remaining matches this season.
But Arteta has appeared to put special emphasis on Saturday’s game with Fulham, believing victory would get them “very, very close” to the trophy.
Saturday 2nd May 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
“Against Newcastle there were five games to go – and that was game one,” said Arteta. “Now it’s game two – and if you win that one, you really start to get very, very close to it. That’s what is driving us.
“It’s our own race. It’s a race of five races. First one is done, now it’s time for the second one. You just visualise the moment and you know what it means: you win another one and you’re right in it.”
Watch Arsenal vs Fulham live on Sky Sports’ Saturday Night Football this weekend from 5pm, kick-off 5.30pm.
