Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players and supporters to “stay present and live the moment” as the club enter a decisive stretch of the season, with both the Premier League title and Champions League glory within reach.
The Gunners currently lead the Premier League by five points, with second-placed Manchester City holding a game in hand. Arteta’s side need three wins from their final three matches to secure a first league title in 22 years.
Arsenal’s momentum was boosted in midweek when they reached their first Champions League final in two decades, edging out Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate. They will face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on 30 May.
Speaking on Friday, Arteta emphasised focus and consistency. “We are closer and closer and everything that we do now is going to matter to win it or not,” he said. “Stay present, live the moment, prepare and show the same level of energy, hunger and desire that we have showed all season or more.”
Arsenal’s immediate attention turns to Sunday’s Premier League clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium. They will then host Burnley on 18 May before concluding their league campaign away to Crystal Palace on 24 May.
Despite celebrations following their Champions League semi-final triumph, Arteta insisted the squad’s focus remains firmly on the title race. West Ham, currently 18th and fighting for survival, sit just one point above the drop zone.
The Arsenal boss also addressed the mixed reactions to the team’s post-match celebrations, which drew criticism from former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who called them “a little bit too much.” Former Arsenal forward Ian Wright, however, defended the squad, saying they should be allowed to enjoy their achievement.
Meanwhile, Manchester City remain in pursuit of Arsenal. Pep Guardiola’s side, who won the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal in March, face Brentford this weekend before a congested run-in that includes fixtures against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa, alongside an FA Cup final meeting with Chelsea.
City briefly revived their title push with an 11-match unbeaten run but suffered a setback in a 3-3 draw with Everton, where they surrendered a 1-0 lead before being rescued by a second goal from Jeremy Doku.
Guardiola admitted the importance of home support in the final stretch, with three of their remaining league fixtures at the Etihad Stadium. “I love to play at home, what can I say? Winning our games is all that we can do,” he said.
Story by: Ernest Frimpong (0247220948) | Follow our social media handles @uktvghana | DM us for Ads on our website or any of our socials
