Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal must ‘go for it’ in crunch Man City clash

Mikel Arteta has told his players to “go for it” and embrace the Etihad Stadium pressure cooker ahead of Arsenal’s virtual Premier League title decider against Manchester City.

Arteta’s men face their rivals in a do-or-die fixture knowing that a victory behind enemy lines would take them nine points clear with just five matches to play.

However, Arsenal’s defeat by Bournemouth last weekend has handed the title momentum to City, who followed their rivals’ abject home loss with a thumping 3-0 victory at Chelsea.

Arsenal are also carrying the scars of finishing runners-up for the past three seasons, and without a championship in 22 years, while Pep Guardiola has overseen five titles during his City tenure. Arteta’s sole trophy remains the 2020 FA Cup.

But speaking on the eve of Sunday’s crunch match, Arteta, when asked what his final message to his players will be, replied: “Go for it.

“Let’s be ourselves and go for it, put everything we have on that pitch. Have huge belief, have huge conviction and go for it because we are more than capable of doing it.”

Arsenal have sat at the top of the table since September but City would draw level on points – and possibly displace the Gunners on goal difference – if they beat Arteta’s side and then win at Burnley on Wednesday.

But when asked if his out-of-form players must embrace the pressure, Arteta said: “One hundred per cent.

“We are exactly where we want to be and there have been a lot of positive things and I don’t see anything that has to hold you back.

“We are playing against an opponent that requires the best out of you. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

The last meeting between the sides at the Etihad in September 2024 ended in explosive fashion, with Erling Haaland launching a ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel’s head before telling Arteta to “stay humble” as players and staff from both sides clashed at the full-time whistle.

In the return match at the Emirates, Gabriel screamed in Haaland’s face after Martin Odegaard’s opener and Myles Lewis-Skelly imitated the Norwegian’s goal celebration in a 5-1 victory for the Gunners.

Quizzed as to whether he is looking forward to renewing his rivalry with Haaland, Gabriel told Sky Sports: “Of course. I want to play against big players and that is why I am here, and Sunday is going to be a big battle.

“We are comfortable, we are relaxed and we need to have a good mentality to go there and get three points.

“We need to enjoy these kind of games. We are ready to go. I want to win and that is why I am here. It is a beautiful moment for us and for this club.”