It’s squeaky bum time Gunners, so do a Fergie and keep those eyes off the big prize

ADVANTAGE Arsenal in the title race. Now what?

Simple. Take a leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s playbook and play the games – not the occasion.

It was one of the tricks of the trade used by the wily old Scot (right) as each campaign drew to a close.

Or, as he once so eloquently put it as the season approached, ‘Squeakybum time’.

Pints

It was his former Manchester United skipper Steve Bruce who gave an insight into the methods used by his manager to ensure his players were focused on the job at hand.

That they wouldn’t perform to their usual high standards if they were thinking about landing the title.

In days gone by, the late Brian Clough once took his players for a stopover in a Glasgow pub before a UEFA Cup game at Celtic.

It’s not to be suggested in this day and age that Mikel Arteta (above) should relax his squad by suggesting they down a few pints – but it certainly worked for Ol’ Big ’Ead.

Matches are fast running down and, following their goalless draw at the Etihad a couple of weeks ago, they’ve proved to plenty – including me – that they might have what it takes to drag themselves over the line.

On the eve of that tussle on these pages, the need was stressed for Arsenal to come away from Manchester with something – anything – to prove they had what it takes. And they did. OK, the game itself was horrible.

But no one in that red corner will care one jot if the title ends up in north London.

It was a significant step. But there is still plenty of work to do – and they cannot take Aston Villa lightly this afternoon.

Judging by the prices, the bookies have written this off as a gimme – it will be anything but.

A host of managers have saluted the work done by Unai Emery at Villa Park as ‘world class’.

Lille manager Paulo Fonseca – a reported target for West Ham if David Moyes leaves – was at it before the

Europa Conference League quarterfinal. It’s a recurring theme as far as Emery is concerned. And why not?

He’s led Villa from the fringes of the relegation zone to the edges of Champions League qualification.

All within 18 months. That’s some improvement.

Ambitions

Fergie knew his players wouldn’t perform to their usual standards if they were thinking about landing the title

And it will surprise no Arsenal fan to learn that, while the Basque’s command of English has improved, it still contains some stock phrases – hard work, demands, structure… and winning.

Villa have failed to score away from home only three times this season.

And they have their ambitions to pursue. They are a team not to be taken lightly. It was Gary Neville who came up with the phrase ‘billionpound bottle jobs’ to describe

Chelsea’s failure to defeat a young Liverpool side in the Carabao Cup final.

It was a pre-planned jibe – but it worked.

Arsenal would find themselves in similar territory if they were to blow it from here. For the second successive season.

Twelve months ago, they did implode, but circumstances have changed.

They’re more robust, better organised, perhaps more determined due to last season.

Putting the prize at stake to the back of their minds is the best thing they can do.

Because, if they fail during the coming weeks, next time it’s going to be even more difficult with the emotional baggage they’ll be carrying around.