Wilder fancies a post-match pour with Mik

CHRIS WILDER will welcome Mikel Arteta into his office with open arms after tonight’s game, regardless of the outcome.

The Sheffield United manager is a keen supporter of the customary post-match drink, where rival bosses chew the fat over a glass of wine or beer.

He is also a big fan of the Arsenal boss, whose title-chasing Gunners head to Bramall Lane in a rich vein of form.

Wilder enjoys spending time with his managerial contemporaries after games and is keen to continue the tradition.

He said: “It’s important to listen and talk after games because there are bits and pieces you can pick up. “The game is tough enough and we’ll be shouting and

bawling at each other but 90 percent of the time, you put it aside afterwards and that time is precious.

“I’ve always seen it as an important 20 to 25 minutes for everybody and it’s something we’d like to continue.”

Arteta is aiming to guide Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 20 years, having survived a shaky start to his tenure before lifting the FA Cup in 2020.

Wilder (on the touchline alongside the Spaniard, above) added: “I’ve an incredible amount of respect for Mikel because he’s been through tough times at Arsenal and come through them.

“Everyone in the world, at one stage, thought a change would be made.

“But Mikel came through that and won a trophy pretty early on when they lifted the FA Cup, after knocking us out, in lockdown. The way Mikel is progressing, moving and building his team, is really good to see.

“I enjoy watching Arsenal, although I hope I don’t enjoy watching them on Monday.

“We have to try to take them to the limit, which we did to Liverpool at home and are capable of doing.

“If Arsenal get on the bus having got a result then we want to make sure they’ve had to do a lot of things right.”

The Blades – currently 11 points adrift of safety – appear relegation certainties, but Wilder insists they can be competitive even with a Championship return coming into focus.

He said: “I don’t want us to be a pushover, and times we have been but that won’t happen going forward, I’m telling you.”