Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on his players to harness their current momentum in the correct manner as the club stands on the precipice of ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title. With the team also preparing for a Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, the Gunners have a genuine opportunity to secure a historic league and European double this season.
The North London side currently sits at the top of the table and travels to the London Stadium to face West Ham on Sunday. Even if Manchester City reduces the gap to two points by beating Brentford on Saturday, a victory for Arsenal would put them within touching distance of the trophy. Arteta's squad has navigated a difficult period that included a loss at the Etihad and an FA Cup exit, but the manager believes a new spirit of togetherness has emerged.
Arteta was keen to dismiss external noise, specifically criticism from what he termed the "celebration police," following his side's jubilant scenes after securing their spot in the Champions League final. He emphasized that the focus remains entirely on the immediate task at hand. "I think we're in a really good moment," Arteta stated, noting the palpable energy within the squad. "I think we have to channel that energy in the right way – it's very, very powerful."
The manager identified a specific moment that helped galvanize the team following their defeat to Manchester City. He pointed to midfielder Declan Rice's "It's not over" rallying cry in the dressing room as a pivotal turning point. Arteta described this as the start of a sentence that concluded with a collective conviction that they would still achieve their goals, a feeling he sensed immediately among the players.
Several factors have contributed to Arsenal's resurgence. The improvement of striker Viktor Gyökeres, who has nine goals in his last 11 appearances, has been crucial. Arteta also highlighted his "gut-feeling" decision to deploy Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield and the timely return to form of key winger Bukayo Saka. These elements have helped shift the narrative from one of potential collapse to one of champions-in-waiting.
The path forward is clear, though not without challenges. After the West Ham fixture, Arsenal host already-relegated Burnley in their final home game, an opportunity to bolster their goal difference. The season concludes with a trip to Crystal Palace, a match complicated for the opposition by their impending Conference League final. However, Arteta is not looking that far ahead, insisting his team must simply be better than each opponent they face.
"What is driving and really pushing the team is that incredible will to win," Arteta explained. "We have shown throughout the last three or four seasons what we are capable of in terms of performances and consistency and now it's about delivering when the moment matters the most." The final steps in this long-awaited title pursuit begin this weekend in East London.
Based on reporting from Football | The Guardian.
