Mikel Arteta has issued a passionate rallying cry to his Arsenal players, urging them to 'define the history of the club' as they face a pivotal week in their season. The Gunners take on Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday before a crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid just three days later.
Arteta's Challenge to His Squad
Speaking ahead of the Fulham clash, Arteta emphasised the magnitude of the upcoming fixtures. 'We know what's at stake. We need to push it,' he said. 'Everybody has to lead himself and take ownership of the moment because the impact that you can have in the moment now is going to define the history of the club. That's a very powerful thing to have.'
Arsenal can move clear at the top of the Premier League table with a victory over Fulham, piling pressure on title rivals Manchester City. Arteta's message was clear: 'When you have the opportunity to make history in such a way you have to embrace it. That's it. That's what we've been working for, that's the goal we set at the start of the season, so when you pursue a dream and you have it in front of you you have to do your best to achieve it. There's nothing else but bringing out your best.'
Siege Mentality After Atletico Draw
The Gunners head into the weekend feeling aggrieved after their 1-1 draw in Madrid, where they believed they were denied a clear penalty following a VAR review. Arteta admitted the sense of injustice has fostered a 'siege mentality' within the squad. 'We certainly have that,' he said. 'We need to face any context, any situation to achieve our goal. What happened tonight was extremely disappointing and we need to make it at home now.'
Arsenal are considering whether to file a formal complaint over the officiating, but Arteta is focused on the immediate task. 'I don't know anything about whether an appeal has been made. I haven't spoken to them in the last few hours, so I don't know. We'll deal with that on Monday. Now it's Fulham.'
With four Premier League games remaining plus the Champions League semi-final second leg, Arteta believes his squad has the energy and determination to finish the season strongly. 'I think we have enough fuel in the tank. We're playing to win the Premier League. It's exactly what we want it to be,' he concluded.
