Arteta: Young Guns hungry for success
BOSS MIKEL ADMITS HIS ARSENAL HAVE THE STOMACH FOR A TITLE AND TROPHY FIGHT AS THEIR ‘TUMMIES ARE EMPTY’
MIKEL ARTETA insists Arsenal’s young guns are desperate to satiate their “empty tummies” with success and trophies.
The Gunners boss is adamant his title-chasing stars have justified the flurry of bumper contract extensions dished out by sporting director Edu in the past 12 months.
And their collective hunger is fuelling the club’s bid to end the 20-year wait for a Premier League title.
Arteta said: “We know, with those players, their tummies are still very empty – because they haven’t won a lot and they want to improve.
“That’s part of the reason why we wanted to renew because we know this is something that could be motivating to them and that gives them reassurance. It’s also an incentive to continue doing what they’re doing.
“That’s not going to stop them from being willing to be better and to improve because they are still so young and have so much to do.”
Bukayo Saka is spearheading Arsenal’s pursuit of glory, having struck eight times in his past seven top-flight games ahead of tomorrow night’s trip to Sheffield United.
The England star now has 16 goals and 13 assists to his name in all competitions – bettering both of his final tallies from last season.
In response to those that had doubted Saka during a recent barren run that saw him score once in 11 Premier League matches, Arteta said: “Players have moments. You can analyse just the attacking stats or the goals or assists. Then you make the judgement because of that, that’s it.
“But his overall play, contribution and the way he was affecting the game was still really high.
“Is he now being more efficient? The answer is yes. The impact he’s had in the last seven or eight games has been really good. I’m really happy to have a player in form.” The Arsenal boss will stamp out any fears of complacency ahead of the trip to Bramall Lane by citing the gut-wrenching 3-3 draw with Southampton last April. It was a result that proved terminal for their title hopes and, with a crunch showdown against Manchester City on the horizon, Arsenal cannot afford to lose more ground on their rivals. “Southampton was a big one,” said Arteta. “We were still top in that period.
THE BUK STOPS EAR
Gunners star Bukayo Saka is in a rich vein of form now
Then there was the result that came afterwards [a 4-1 defeat to City]. We will touch base, but you have to see how they train every day and what the talk was after Newcastle. They all said the same.
“Now we have Sheffield, it’s a big match for us and they’re ready for it.
“I think we are where we deserve to be, but we could probably be a little bit better in terms of the points that we have deserved in the league.
“But to do it consecutively for two seasons – apart from being in the Champions League which makes the challenge more difficult alongside the injuries that we’ve had – I think we are doing good, but we want to do better, that’s for sure.”
The 41-year-old refused to be drawn on TV pundit Rio Ferdinand’s controversial claim that Arteta would leave Arsenal for Manchester United at the drop of a hat.
When asked if the remark bothered him, he said: “No, I think it’s part of our job that we are exposed to the media and pundits, they have their opinions.
“The only thing is that we normally highlight the ones that are not very positive.”
‘The impact Saka had in the last eight games has been really good’