MIK: THIS IS OUR MOMENT

MIKEL ARTETA accepts that this may prove to be Arsenal’s best opportunity to lift the Premier League title for some while – amid the rise of elite, state-owned English clubs.

Should Manchester United fall into Qatari hands this summer, the Gunners will be the only current top-four team NOT financed by a foreign nation.

Holders Manchester City are backed by Sheikh Mansour of the United Arab Emirates, while Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund are in charge at third-place Newcastle. If Sheikh Jassim’s £5billion-plus takeover bid for Manchester United is successful, Arsenal, owned by American sports and entertainment tycoon Stan Kroenke, suddenly become the odd ones out at the summit.

Ahead of today’s trip to Newcastle – with three points imperative to keep his visitors in title contention – Arteta (above) was asked if it really could be a case of now or never for a non-state-owned club to rule. And the Gunners boss said: “It is the best time because this is the moment – right now. “The best time is when you have something and try to take it, especially in elite sports... because you don’t know when you are going to have another opportunity. “That is what we’re trying to do. We’re going to Newcastle to win and continue to be there.”

Not that Arteta feels competing for transfer targets is impossible – even if Arsenal’s not-so-insignificant investment can still look pretty slim alongside the sort of limitless spending power of their rivals.

Indeed Arteta, whose outlay over the last two years stands above £300million, considers it his club’s duty to remain an integral member of the English football establishment.

“We have to compete with those teams, because we are Arsenal Football Club,” said the former Gunners playmaker.

“The demands are to be the best in everything we do, so we have to find a way to do that.”