Top four’s nailed on... don’t Fox it up!
MIKEL ARTETA has told his men to focus only on what lies ahead – and not blow their Champions League hopes ‘Leicester-style’.
Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes have been looking good for a top-four finish in each of the last two seasons, only to run out of steam late on. This season it is Arsenal who look nailed on for fourth – but Arteta warned: “Look only forwards, not at what you have done or who is coming behind you.
“Look forward to the next training, next performance and next match. Make sure everybody is on the same page.”
Much of Arsenal’s good form has come from youngsters – from Aaron Ramsdale in goal to midfielders Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard. But 20-year-old William Saliba, who is on loan at Marseille, spoke last week about his frustrations at not getting a chance at the club.
Arteta said: “We made together the decision for him to go on loan. Now he gets those chances in a really competitive league and is doing really well.”
The Gunners boss clearly has not lost his own desire to be in the thick of the action.
Arteta came way out of his technical area in the game against Watford, kept the ball moving and Arsenal went on to score from the resulting throw-in. He laughed: “If we can expand that area a bit, I will be happy – because sometimes there can be more from me.”