Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal players to play with 'pure fire' as they face a pivotal week in their season. The Gunners travel to Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday for the Champions League semi-final second leg, before a Premier League title decider at Manchester City on Sunday.
Arteta's demand comes after Arsenal's slip against Bournemouth on Saturday increased the pressure. 'No fear, pure fire. That's it,' Arteta said. 'Pure fire, that's what I want to see from the players, the people, myself. The opportunity is unbelievable. Let's confront it, let's go for it and put everything into it.'
The Arsenal manager dismissed any nerves, saying: 'Fire. I'm on fire. That's it. Nothing else. I'm driven so much. I have done so much to be in this position. I know how this club was. This is beauty. I see beauty and opportunity. I want to get it done for all the people on the journey with us. That's what has driven me every day. Zero fear.'
Arsenal could be without key midfielder Declan Rice, who missed training, joining an injury list that includes Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard. Arteta admitted the situation is 'far from ideal' but said Saka might have to play through pain. 'Bukayo is a person who gets frustrated but he does everything that he can to change that,' Arteta said. 'He doesn't just lie there waiting. He's constantly looking for solutions and he does everything that he can to make himself available as soon as possible.'
Arteta also dismissed a viral clip of a Manchester City fan taunting Arsenal with a water bottle, insisting his players have the mentality to win trophies. 'One fan, you mean? Yes. So we have to be one fan that says something. Over 60,000 are incredible every time I'm at the Emirates. I don't get moved by that,' he said. 'We have proved that we have the mindset to do all the things that we don't have to this point. Now we have to show on the pitch that we have the mindset to do that. That's what we are. We have to prove to everybody, to ourselves.'
