Arsenal target Europa, Premier League glory

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will not down tools in the Europa League to help their bid to win a first Premier League title for 19 years. Arteta’s Premier League leaders sit five points clear of second placed Manchester City with 11 games left. Bowing out of the Europa League could aid the Gunners’ hopes of holding onto the lead in the title race as it would allow more recovery and preparation time. But Arteta does not share that view because the Arsenal boss is trying to restore a winning culture to a club mired in mediocrity for much of the past two decades.

Arsenal host Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of their Europa League last 16 clash on Thursday with the tie delicately balanced after a 2-2 draw in Portugal last week. “Our priority is the two competitions,” Arteta said. “The best way to prepare for any competition is to win the previous match and having the confidence and the proper emotion to approach the next game.” Arteta’s philosophy has so far been proved right. Arsenal have won six and drawn one of their seven Premier League games immediately following their Europa League matches this season.

Despite arriving back in London in the early hours of Friday morning, the visitors cruised to a 3-0 win at Fulham on Sunday with the game won by half-time. It is master against the apprentice in the Premier League title fight as Arteta takes on his former boss in City manager Pep Guardiola. Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant for three years between 2016 and 2019. The influence of Guardiola is clear to see Arsenal’s style of play under Arteta, but also in the mentality the Spaniard is trying to instill.