Mikel Arteta says Arsenal winning the Premier League would be one of the best days of his life and that the unpredictability of final-day drama is “like a drug”.
After 282 days and 37 matches, the Gunners’ fate will be decided over the course of a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon.
Either the red half of north London will explode at 6pm with jubilant scenes not seen for two decades or the Emirates faithful will be left wondering what might have been were it not for a single slip-up in the second half of the campaign.
A series of intriguing subplots tee up the drama. First, Arteta needs his side to take care of business against his former club Everton. Unbeaten in five games, he knows the Toffees won’t be pushovers.
Meanwhile, 200 miles north at the Etihad, two of his former mentors face off. If David Moyes, in charge of West Ham for the last time, can avoid defeat against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, the door will be open for an Arsenal miracle.
“I’m feeling privileged. It’s a great moment,” Arteta said on Friday afternoon.
“You are there and it’s the unpredictability, that’s what is like a drug. You are there and you still have to earn it and you want it so much.
“It’s uncertain, there’s a lot of factors that can change things around very quickly but when you manage to do it, it’s just phenomenal.
“It will be for sure, one of the best days of my life,” he said when asking how special it would be to lead the Gunners to the title.
“On the sporting side, for sure, because that was a big dream that I didn’t manage to achieve as a player. And I had another one [dream] as a manager. If I can do it, and especially with the people that we work with every single day, that will be some day.”
It’s not the first time Arteta has experienced the emotions of a last-gasp title decider. During his time in Manchester, City just about held off Liverpool’s challenge. And as a player, back in 2003, he played a pivotal role in sealing the SPL title for Rangers, scoring an injury-time penalty that ensured they pipped Celtic on goal difference.
“When it gets really tight and when it gets emotional, a lot of things happen,” said Arteta.
“Games can become very chaotic, things happen that normally they don’t happen. Within that chaos, the magic can happen as well and we have seen it many, many times. Let’s see.”
He also took a moment to reminisce about his heroics at Ibrox. “One of the most beautiful days that I experienced as a player,” he said.
“You can imagine how it was at that stadium in Glasgow against your biggest rivals and the uncertainty that we didn’t know the score.
“They were telling us we need one more goal. Now we are okay. We need another goal and in the 94th to 96th minutes, it’s a penalty and we had to score that goal to win the title.
“So I looked around, nobody was picking the ball. I went and picked it up. The crowd turned around, they didn’t want to watch it. I scored and thank God I scored, and we won the league and it was great.”
When you’ve experienced something like that, you can understand why Arteta is genuinely excited about the prospect of living that high again, even if the odds are stacked against him.
It would be fucking amazing. I’ve been a gooner for 31 years, just turned 40, have spent the last 16 years living in London, and recently decided I’m not leaving until I see us win the league while I’m living here.
My wife and kid don’t know that’s while we’re still here, but it is.
Just arrived at JFK airport from Vegas – en route to London after a super impulsive solo plane + game ticket purchase. Love that we all support a team that inspires this kind of lunacy.
Yep, u are crazy. In a very good way.
I want to know what kind of fan sold you their ticket to this one
I promise if we win the title I won’t trim my nostril hairs for a year. Also, I will give up masturbation!
Ok, but the nose hairs for sure.
If we win, I promise to spend less time with my family.
It’s sort of a reverse fever pitch.
What would hurt us more emotionally or regretfully – losing the title or losing the Champions League Final against Barca in 2005?
You can easily win a competition for worst question ever.
Have you ever heard of reverse jinx?
Troll.
Also it was 2006.
We will look back on these times as golden, as it is already a big part of our history. And to face it with such courage. I believe this is what identity is.
I don’t know guys, I just have a feeling we’re gonna win this. Ok so I’ve had a couple of pints (!) but come on you irons…I know Moyes wants to win his last game…this is gonna happen!!
Let’s hope for a Jover dose…
In a common style of Mr Bloggs, I had a dream last night we won it. City and Arsenal were 1 – 0 up, but City looked comfortable and Arsenal were under pressure. Then……in perfect synchrony Rodri scored a last minute own goal and Odegaard scored a belter on the counter attack. I celebrated so hard I woke myself, my wife and the dog up.
I bet the Spurs merchandising team will be nervous. They’ll lose all that revenue from the DVD of them losing to City if we end up winning the title anyway.
Hope spuds get beat by Sheffield Utd and drop down into the third tier euro competition 🤣