Mikel Arteta has urged spluttering Arsenal to embrace the “huge privilege” of facing Manchester City in a potentially decisive showdown in the Premier League title race.
Arteta’s side are six points clear of second-placed City ahead of their blockbuster clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
But City have a game in hand on the Gunners, and a victory for Pep Guardiola’s men would tilt the balance of power in their favour heading into the final weeks of the season.
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Adding to the drama of the do-or-die battle, Arsenal are enduring an untimely loss of form after losing three of their last five games in all competitions.
They were beaten by City in the League Cup final, suffered a shock FA Cup quarter-final exit at second-tier Southampton and slumped to a home league defeat against Bournemouth.
The Gunners were well below their best once again on Wednesday when they edged past Sporting Lisbon, drawing 0-0 to secure a 1-0 aggregate victory in the Champions League quarter-finals.
But, despite criticism of Arsenal’s perceived mental weakness under pressure, Arteta is convinced his players have the right character to take a huge step towards winning the Premier League.
“We have earned the right to be in this position and to be challenging, with an opportunity to win against arguably the best team and best manager this league has ever seen,” Arteta told reporters on Friday.
“That is a huge privilege. We see this as a big opportunity for us. Who is more privileged to be in this position?
“I don’t know how Pep and Man City are feeling, but I feel very privileged to have earned the right to be in this position to play such a big and great game.”
Arsenal are chasing a first English title since 2004 after finishing as runners-up for the last three seasons.
In 2023 and 2024 they squandered substantial leads that allowed City to pip them to the title.
But Arteta knows that beating City this weekend would put Arsenal in a virtually unassailable position of strength.
“Winning at this stage, then you are a bit closer,” he said.
“There are six games to go. Obviously, it is a really important one for both teams.
“It will incline the balance a little bit, but winning a game in the Premier League is so tough for everybody.”
