MIKEL ARTETA PANIC MEETING: INSIDER EXPLAINS URGENCY BEHIND THE MANAGER'S CALL NOW
The Premier League title race was blown wide open as Liverpool and Man City both lost. Arsenal now has the chance to seize top spot with a win over rivals Tottenham in the North London derby.
The battle for the Premier League title became much more interesting this weekend as Liverpool and Manchester City unexpectedly lost, giving Arsenal a chance to take the lead if they can win against Tottenham on Sunday at their home stadium.
Mikel Arteta knows how important this is, and he has apparently scheduled an important meeting with his coaching staff for 10 am on Sunday, according to someone on X who is considered a reliable source.
The point is clear: they cannot afford to make mistakes.
Both Liverpool and Man City had unexpected losses on Saturday.
With their two main competitors for the title both stumbling, Arsenal now has a great chance to move ahead in the standings, but Arteta is insisting that his players stay completely focused and calm.
Liverpool's problems got worse on Saturday when they lost 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest, a result that shocked their fans and made the champions seem like they had no solutions.
Goals from Murillo, Nicolò Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White added to Liverpool’s suffering as Arne Slot’s team lost their sixth league game out of seven.
Their performance was characterised by weak defence and a lack of creativity in attack, problems that have been hurting Liverpool throughout the season.
Also, Manchester City’s attempt to win the title was slowed down when they lost 2-1 to Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.
Harvey Barnes was the star for Newcastle, scoring two goals in an amazing performance that showed how City is becoming more vulnerable when playing away from home.
Pep Guardiola’s team, which had controlled the ball for most of the game, was defeated by Newcastle’s effective counterattacks and constant energy, reminding everyone that even the best teams in the league can be punished if they get too comfortable.
Mikel Arteta does not want any mistakes right now.
For Arsenal, these results have turned Sunday’s game against their North London rivals into a very important moment in their season.
A win over Spurs would not only strengthen their position at the top of the league but also send a strong signal about their chances of winning the title.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are trying to finish in the top four and will come to Arsenal’s stadium determined to ruin their plans.
If Arsenal wins on Sunday, they could move six points ahead of Chelsea at the top of the league, completely changing the outlook of the title race.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
