Mikel Arteta demands total concentration on Monday’s clash, ignoring Manchester City’s looming shadow as the Gunners fight to maintain control of a high-stakes Premier League title race.
Mikel Arteta has insisted Arsenal are not looking beyond Monday’s Premier League meeting with Burnley, despite knowing they could move a step closer to the title with victory at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal go into the final two league games still in control of their own work, but with Manchester City close enough to keep the pressure high. Arteta was repeatedly asked about the wider title picture, including whether his players might watch Bournemouth’s game against City together next week, but his answer remained the same.
“We focus just on the things that are in our hands, which is to prepare in the best possible way to beat Burnley,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. “That’s it.”
That was the message throughout.
When pressed on whether the squad could gather to watch City after the Burnley game, Arteta pushed the conversation back to Monday night. “We prepared just to beat Burnley,” he said. “That’s it.” He later added: “We’re not thinking about that type of thing. The only focus is on Burnley and winning that game.”
It is a familiar stance from Arteta, but the timing gives it more weight. Arsenal are close enough to see the finish line, yet still have enough work left that any shift in focus would carry risk.
Burnley arrive at Emirates Stadium with Arsenal needing to control both the emotion of the occasion and the detail of the performance. The temptation, from outside at least, is to look at permutations, goal difference and City’s remaining fixtures. Arteta knows that is part of the noise around a title race, but he is trying to keep the dressing room inside a narrower frame.
He did acknowledge that goal difference could yet matter, but only after stressing that Arsenal first have to do the basic work.
“First of all, you have to earn the right to win the game,” Arteta said. “And obviously, if I make a difference with more goals, that’s obviously even better.” He added that scoring goals “is going to be important”, but only after referencing Arsenal’s hard-fought win at West Ham as a reminder that every game still has to be earned.
Arteta sounded encouraged by the emotional state of his squad, describing the team as “really present” and saying the energy level was right. He also said the players were “enthusiastic” and “positive” about the way they can finish the season, despite the latest injury blow to Ben White.
The manager also called on the Emirates crowd to play its part. Arsenal are expecting another strong supporter welcome before kick-off, following the scenes before the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid. Arteta said that moment built a connection with the players that Arsenal “hadn’t experienced before” and helped lift the energy around the team.
That could matter on Monday. Arsenal need clarity, but they will also need the fans to carry them through any tense spells. Title run-ins are rarely clean, and Arteta’s side have already shown at West Ham that even narrow wins can be decisive at this stage.