Arteta: It’s gotta be electric

Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal fans to provide an electric atmosphere for Friday night’s Premier League clash with Southampton.

After two successive draws, this fixture takes on huge significance, allowing us to open up an 7 point gap on Man City who will be in FA Cup action this weekend – thus leaving them with two games in hand.

The Arsenal boss has seen incredible support from the stands all season long, something he acknowledged in his press conference this morning, but once again sounded a rallying cry for his team as we continue to fight for the title.

Asked what kind of atmosphere he was expecting, Arteta said, “Friday night … it has to be electric!

“I want that crowd playing every single ball with our team, and being no different to what we have experienced.

“A full capacity energy-wise, and everybody pushing the team.”

The last time the two sides met, they drew 1-1 at St Mary’s, after which Arteta insisted there were lessons to learn. Quizzed on whether those lessons had been taken on board, he said, “Hopefully now we’re in a better place, but it is true that game had critical moments when we could have closed it out, and we didn’t.

“In the second half, the first 25 minutes in particular was very disappointing. But credit to the opposition as well, when are unable to do what you want to do for long periods it’s because they are doing something right.

“Southampton, after analysing with a lot of detail, they have impressed me quite a lot. I watched the last game, how they lost with the margin they lost, that margin wasn’t there.

“What Ruben and the coaches are doing is really good, the rewards maybe haven’t been there in terms of results, but they are a really good team.”