Mikel Arteta says he’s ready to “embrace the moment” as Arsenal look to end their 20-year wait for a league title.
The Gunners extended their unbeaten run in the league to nine games thanks to a hard-fought 0-0 draw with reigning champions Manchester City and while they’ve slipped to second in the table, the manager knows there’s everything still to play for.
Looking ahead to the remaining fixtures, he predicts his side will have to win most, if not all, of them to be crowned champions.
“I’m really excited,” said the Spaniard ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Luton.
“We had these discussions when we played Liverpool a few months ago, it’s a must-win or a not-lose because you know the title is over. That was two months ago!
“It’s always like that when you look back in October and you feel the necessity to win and be there and it’s not going to change from now until the end.
“Obviously, the end is coming. Nine games is still a lot and I just embrace the moment, go game by game and make sure we are fully prepared for tomorrow to perform well.”
“When you see the level and consistency of the other teams and historically what is needed to win in this league, it’s not going to be very far from that [winning every game].”
After the tension of Sunday’s trip to the Etihad, Arteta was noticeably more relaxed when he faced questions from reporters earlier.
Asked how far the club has progressed in his five-step plan to revive its fortunes, he joked: “Let me go back to the computer!”
And while he wouldn’t go into any detail about what each step entails – “Maybe one day we’ll have a coffee and I’ll tell you how it works” – he made clear that his efforts to improve the club will never be over.
“We’re not far [from step four], I think we’re getting close to that. But once you get to certain points, you go back to phase one again and you want to build it and you want to be better and you have to continue to evolve.”
Arteta was quick to point to the Conti Cup success of Arsenal Women as one of a number of indicators that the club as a whole is moving in the right direction.
“We certainly are [on track] because you feel a lot of things around the club and it’s not only the first-team.
“What the women did at the weekend made us so proud and it’s so important as well because we really are encouraging and embracing them to have the space that they fully deserve and they’re doing incredibly well.
“It’s the same with the academy and the same with the supporters, with the unity we have as a club of what we want to project from that sense.
“There are a lot of good things happening, but we want, and we need, to aim for much more than that.”
Love all the thinking he does. Best defence, as seen v City, best attack as seen in the previous matches this year with many goals scored, just need to keep going at the same level. Fingers crossed!
Yes agree. We are now half way through this seasons 2024 Premier league games. 9 down, 9 to go. It is so close, but I would hope that if we can replicate the last 9 games (8 wins and a draw), we will have an excellent chance of winning the league. Not an easy task, but possible with this team.
It’s going to take something incredible to win this. I hope we’re at the same time keeping focus on the Champions League which we might have just as much or as little chance of winning… both trophies will take immense performances, an iron will and a few lucky whistles and bounces of the ball. I trust us to deliver on everything within our control, and the other stuff, it’s kind of funny, the dice have a way of rolling a certain way when you’re really, really determined. We’ll see I guess… I just remember late era Wenger’s teams when we… Read more »
I re-watched the game against city on the tellybox yesterday – I have to say it was rather impressive. Quote of the day goes to Gary Neville – when the away fans were chanting for rocky in the 31st minute, he says in the commentary something along the lines of it’s the first time we’ve heard the away fans today. Berk. The away fans did not stop – and it is encouraging that Neville would see us as the team that he feels the need to belittle when we are playing geographically his closest neighbours. What will hurt neville is… Read more »
Firstly, I don’t think we should take ratboy too seriously. Secondly, MA should win the title, coming close ain’t good enough IMHO in the next 2-3 years; esp after having spent about half a Billion £.
I try not to take anything too seriously, including rat boy. That said I do actually respect Gary Neville – which is why I am encouraged by his reaction to our performance – it is depressing to him that we are the real deal.
Even if we don’t do it this season, someone who hates us as much as Neville knows we will clown his criticisms going forward – and this crushes his spirit in the most pleasing and visible way – to see him clutching at straws in the way he did was both pitiful and glorious
Wait, wait, wait… You resurrect Gary Nuffville? I mean, I should accept that maybe you respect him more than Janie Carragher, but that’s the footballing equivalent of asking someone who they prefer out of Mao Zedong and Adolf Hitler.
I also respect dog shit, because if I lick it it’ll taste terrible and make me go blind
Well obviously he’s not finished.
Step 5 is where the stadium transforms into a giant robot, strides across north London and eradicates sp*rs with frikkin’ laser beams fired from its eyes.
Or to leave a gigantic mecha-turd in the middle of their stadium! Because… you know 😉
that;s putting a hat on a hat
Arteta is an amazing person
did i something or there wasn’t an april fool’s day article this year? 🙁
I like his 5 step plan so much more than Man City’s 115 step plan.