PIERS MORGAN ADVICE: MORGAN URGES ARTETA TO "TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF" WITH A HOLIDAY
Arsenal drop points at bottom-club Wolves: Discover why Piers Morgan thinks a "Top Gun" beach break is the only way to save the title.
Piers Morgan thinks Mikel Arteta and Arsenal should recreate that famous Top Gun volleyball scene to help get their title hopes back on track.
Morgan chatted with Gabby Agbonlahor and Alan Brazil on talkSPORT Breakfast on Thursday morning, not long after Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Wolves.
Arsenal seemed set to grab a significant three points at Molineux.
Bukayo Saka put Arsenal ahead early, and Piero Hincapie doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half.
Hugo Bueno cut the lead in half around the hour mark, trying to slow down Arsenal's title chase.
Then, Tom Edozie scored in stoppage time, forcing Arsenal to split the points with the team at the bottom of the league.
After the game, Arsenal and Wolves players got into some scuffles, as the Gunners struggled to keep their cool with their lead at the top now just five points.
Manchester City, their title rivals, play Newcastle on Saturday night and have a game in hand over Arsenal.
Morgan appeared on talkSPORT Breakfast on Thursday to talk about Arsenal's chances.
He joked about not wanting to face the music after Arsenal's slip-up but said it was time for the team to stand up to the pressure.
Morgan suggested Arteta take the players somewhere warm during their week off, referencing that Top Gun scene to let them relax.
For those who don't remember, the scene involves Iceman and Slider playing volleyball against Maverick and Goose, showing off their team spirit.
Morgan said, Here's my advice for Mikel: We have a week off. I want these guys on a plane somewhere warm from Monday until Friday.
I want them to play zero soccer. They look mentally drained. Let's give them a break.
Take the pressure off, put them on a beach, and let them play beach volleyball like the pilots in 'Top Gun'. They seem tense, and I think that's what I saw last night.
Arsenal's next game is on Sunday against Tottenham in the North London Derby.
Spurs are having a tough season and are only five points above the relegation zone.
After a poor run, Thomas Frank lost his job and was replaced by Igor Tudor.
Despite the change, Morgan expects Arsenal to beat Spurs.
Morgan added, I can't think of a better place to go than Tottenham on Sunday, and I'm guessing Mikel Arteta will give them a good talking to.
Let's go beat Tottenham, which shouldn't be hard. They're one of the worst Tottenham teams I've ever seen.
We can push them close to the relegation zone if we win on Sunday. If that's not motivation, what is?
After Spurs, Arsenal plays Chelsea. I can't think of two better games than a North London Derby and a derby against Chelsea.
Morgan was reminded that he predicted Arsenal would win the Premier League by March.
Back in September, after Arsenal beat Newcastle, Agbonlahor asked Morgan if Arsenal would win the league.
Morgan responded, '100 per cent.' Arsenal will win the Premier League.
Liverpool is overrated. They've been lucky. Arsenal had a tougher start, and look where we are.
We are going to win the league. I wouldn't be surprised if we win it by mid-March.
Morgan has since changed his tune, saying, 'I admit our chances of winning the Premier League by mid-March are zero.' It's going to be a tough race.
City will be right behind us. I wouldn't be surprised if Newcastle beat them on Saturday and we beat Tottenham on Sunday.
Morgan believes the week off will help Arsenal get back on track. Let me assure you, we will reset. We will beat Tottenham, we will beat Chelsea, and City might lose to Newcastle on Saturday.
We will win the league, and I still think we're going to win the quadruple. Then, I'll repost all the jokes to my nine million followers for the next year.
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.”
