‘My message to Arsenal supporters is do not panic’
Here is some free advice for Arsenal: get Mikel Arteta tied to a new contract at the earliest opportunity.
Strike while the iron is hot. Liverpool are entering a period of uncertainty when Jürgen Klopp leaves at the end of the season, and there are persistent rumours that Pep Guardiola will soon feel his work is done at Manchester City. Who knows how Guardiola will react if City are heavily punished after the Premier League hearing for alleged spending breaches.
What a message it would send if Arteta was committed to the Emirates for another four years, vowing to reap the rewards of the foundations he has laid.
I have no doubt there will be much fretting in north London if Arsenal do not beat Liverpool (today), or if they are unable to keep up with City as the champions relentlessly find their usual top gear in the title run-in.
Whatever the outcome, my message to Arsenal supporters is do not panic. The team still has a chance this season, and will be in the hunt in the next and the one beyond by keeping their squad and coaching staff intact. Patience is one of the most difficult qualities to master in football, especially when it felt like Arsenal were just one step away coming into this campaign, but it pays to view the bigger picture in this case. If Arsenal lost Arteta in 2025, when his current deal runs out, it would feel like they are squandering a massive opportunity which they have been building towards, albeit everyone naturally craves the title sooner rather than later.”
‘I love what he has done at Liverpool’
There is a mutual respect between Mikel Arteta (right) and Jurgen Klopp (left)
Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Powell
This week, Arteta revealed he has taken “a lot of things” from Jurgen Klopp’s reign at Liverpool but admits the next step has to be emulating his trophy success.
The German recently announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, having taken over in 2015.
During that time he has guided the Reds to a Premier League title, Champions League glory and both the FA Cup and League Cup.
Arsenal sat top of the table for 248 days last season before being usurped by Manchester City but realistically they need to beat Liverpool today to maintain a chance of pipping both clubs to the trophy this season.
As he prepares for what could be their final meeting in the dugout, Arteta – who has form for rowing with Klopp on the touchline – explained what he has taken from his success in England.
Arteta and Klopp have had plenty of touchline bust-ups
Credit: Shutterstock/Tim Keeton
“A lot of things. Especially the identity that his team has, the identity that the club has,” he said. “It is very clear. He is someone who is so determined to make sure that stamp is put in across the club.
“The team has very clear intentions and behaviours, regardless of where (each player) plays. I love that about what he has done at Liverpool.”
Arteta: I’ve no problem with on-pitch arguments
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted he has no issues with his players arguing with each other on the pitch, saying that life in a Premier League title race cannot be “Disneyland”.
Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko were locked in a heated argument at the final whistle of Arsenal’s midweek victory at Nottingham Forest, with coaching staff moving in to separate the pair before the players went down the tunnel.
Arteta said he “loved” the passion on display from his defenders and added that White and Zinchenko enjoy a “great relationship”.
The Arsenal manager has insisted it was a “normal” exchange between the two players and rejected the idea that White and Zinchenko were in a “fight” after the match.
“Maybe we have a different understanding of what the word fight means,” said Arteta. “Maybe it was a conversation. A little bit heated and a little bit emotional after the game when you are going 200 beats a minute. It’s normal. Nothing new.
“I want to see passion. I want to see commitment from my players. I want players who always have desire to be better and in order to do that we have to be demanding with each other. Otherwise it is Disneyland.”
Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko argue as they leave the pitch
Credit: @Arsenalnewschan
Arteta even joked that White and Zinchenko have been “living together” and “sharing wives” this week.
“They have been in the same house the past few days,” he quipped. “Sharing wives and everything. It’s fine, they are living together now. They are best mates.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Thomas Partey has suffered yet another fitness setback ahead of today’s crucial Premier League meeting with Liverpool.
Partey has been missing since October with a thigh problem but was close to making a comeback before another issue flared up in recent days.
“With Thomas unfortunately we had a little setback a few days ago,” said Arteta. “He’s not going to be available in the squad. We’ll see if it’s a matter of days of weeks. But he had a little thing. He felt something in a very similar area and he wasn’t able to train the last few days.”