BEST OF TIMES
Gunners may never have a
NEWCASTLE v ARSENAL
Today, 4.30pm
MIKEL ARTETA admits this may be Arsenal’s best opportunity to lift the Premier League for a while – amid the rise of elite, stateowned English clubs. Should Manchester United fall into Qatari hands this summer, the North Londoners will be the only current top-four team NOT financed by a foreign nation.
Holders Manchester City are backed by United Arab Emirates while Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund are in charge at third-placed Newcastle.
If Qatar’s £5billion-plus takeover bid for the Old Trafford club 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 was asked if it really could be a case of now or never for a non-state-owned club to rule the Premier League.
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 he feels competing for transfer targets is impossible – even if Arsenal’s not-so-insignificant investment can look just that 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 – in all aspects.
“The demands are to be the best in everything we do, so we have to find a way to do that,” he added.
There will be an element of revenge at St James’ Park for the visitors as this time last year Arsenal’s Champions League ambitions were all but killed off by a 2-0 away defeat by Newcastle.
But as for the loaded Geordies becoming a regular feature of future title scraps,arteta needs further convincing despite being highly impressed at their stunning, rapid rise under Eddie Howe.
He said: “I don’t know.they’ve performed really well and deserve to be where they are.we have done the same. But next season will be something completely different, in my opinion.”