We have to look after ourselves – Mikel Arteta not concerned by Arsenal’s rivals
The Gunners go into Sunday’s north London derby at Tottenham top of the Premier League table.
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Your support makes all the difference.Mikel Arteta insists his sole focus remains on Arsenal’s last four games of the season and not on the results of their Premier League title rivals.
The Gunners will go into Sunday’s north London derby at Tottenham top of the table, although the destination of the title is not in their own hands with reigning champions Manchester City just a point behind and with a game in hand.
With Liverpool also involved, the three-way title run-in has already provided twists and turns but – as interest peaks towards the end of the campaign – Arteta is happy to sound like a broken record as he aims to deliver a first league crown to Arsenal in two decades.
Asked how he feels about Arsenal’s title chances with four matches to play, the Spaniard replied: “That we are there.
“We have to look at ourselves and perform the best possible way and win our matches and wait to see what happens.
“That’s what we discussed. It sounds a bit repetitive, but that’s what we have to do.
“This league is tremendously demanding and there can be still a lot of turns. We know what we have to do to win this league.”
Arsenal’s hopes of a first title since their unbeaten ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003-04 have been given a boost by the lack of players on the injury list.
This league is tremendously demanding and there can be still a lot of turns
Arteta has a near-fully fit squad to choose from at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, with only Jurrien Timber expected to miss out as he closes in on a return from a serious knee injury.
“Availability, it is something key,” said Arteta.
“Apart from Jurrien it’s going to be very close that we have everybody available. That’s a huge boost that elevates the training sessions, the competition, between the players and the alternatives to pick the right line-ups to change the game. It’s going to be something very important.
“They are super competitive at the moment, everything we do in the training session they just want to compete and compete and compete and it’s a really good sign.
“We know what we’re going to do if we have to win it and we have to raise the bar in training to match that to make sure that we are ready.”
A short trip to face their north London neighbours is likely to prove the most difficult test of Arsenal’s run-in, with an away game at Manchester United and Bournemouth and Everton to visit the Emirates Stadium.
Spurs themselves are chasing Champions League football to top a first season at the helm for Ange Postecoglou – with Arteta a long-term admirer of the Australian.
“It is really impressive what he has done,” added the Arsenal boss.
“I’m not surprised. I’ve known him since he was in the Australian national team and in Japan I followed him as well.
“He’s always been super clear with a really clear direction and identity with how his teams play. I love the way his teams play, so I think he’s been very good.”