Mikel Arteta says David Moyes ‘could help us to fulfil our dream’
Sunday sees Arsenal host Everton on the final day of the Premier League season, and they could still yet clinch their first league title in 20 years.
The route to the title is certainly complicated for Mikel Arteta’s side, as they know that they must beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium, and are also reliant on Man City dropping points at home to West Ham.
But if the Gunners were to lift the Premier League trophy come the end of Sunday, it is poised to be a spectacle to behold with the 2003/04 Invincibles team set to be in attendance as well as a sold-out crowd.
Speaking ahead of the game, after what has been an exceptional season, Arteta shared his delight and admitted that his former manager and current West Ham boss David Moyes could help Arsenal hugely on Sunday.
The Spaniard said: “He’s [Moyes] been instrumental and so important in my career, not only as a footballer but as a person as well.
“He could help us to fulfil our dream and my personal dream to win the Premier League. That would be unbelievable and always be in my memory.”
Arteta was asked whether he is feeling the nerves ahead of Sunday’s Premier League title showdown, but instead shared his excitement of the occasion:
“It’s one of the biggest weeks for many of us, and certainly now is the most important moment. I’m really excited and can’t wait for Sunday to be in front of us, and obviously I’m very optimistic as well with the possible outcome.”
He was also asked whether or not he needed to give the squad a lift after Man City’s 2-0 win away to Tottenham on Tuesday:
“The hope was there and it didn’t happen and now we have to do our job which is going to be tough because Everton are in a really good moment, so we’re going have to prove again that we can be better than the opponent and win the game.
“Then we have to wish for the best and for West Ham to have a really good day and help us to fulfil our dream. That’s what we’re hoping for.”
Following on from his comments on optimism, Arteta also confirmed that there is a real excitement around the club going into the final day:
“I do and around the building. We are in the last day of the season playing for the Premier League. The Premier League trophy hasn’t been at Emirates Stadium and that was built almost 20 years ago, so that’s a long, long time.
“So yes, we have to be very optimistic. The trophy is going to be there and it’s possible. We have to do our duties, and then we have to wait and see what happens.”
The 42-year-old was also asked whether he or the players will be following the score of the Man City game, which is vital to the Gunners’ title aspirations, but insisted that they are only focused on what they can control:
“The only thing that we have discussed is giving ourselves the opportunity to live a beautiful day on Sunday where the dream is still alive and is possible, and it’s football.
“Once we are there, we just have to live the moment and play like every single week and understand that for that dream to happen, we have to win.
“Then we have to hope again for West Ham to help us to achieve that dream, but that part is on us and is the only thing that we can focus on.”
Arteta was quizzed over the fact that no side has ever toppled the league leaders on the final day in Premier League history, but remained adamant that his side are looking to change history:
“That’s not going to change you mean? It’s a probability – if something happens then it’s more probable that something else can happen. Let’s wish that is the case.”
He was also asked for his thoughts on so many people claiming that Pep Guardiola’s side have ‘one hand on the title’:
“We all know that they are a little bit closer because that’s one game less and they have to play at home, but they’re going play a really tough opponent.
“We have suffered this season and over the last few seasons, it is really tough to beat them. I’m sure they’re going to be very at it and hopefully they can help us to achieve our dream.”
Next month will see Premier League clubs vote on whether or not to abolish Video Assistant Referee (VAR) from next season. Arteta has been a vocal critic of officiating this season, but said he has not been involved in discussions about the vote:
“I haven’t been part of those meetings, so I want to have a meeting with the club next week and understand why these points are coming across and what happened in the last few weeks to get to this position.
“Then we will decide what our position is as a club and see what happens. First of all, I want to understand because I haven’t been part of those meetings, so they will explain to us what happened, the points being discussed, the reasons why and the general feeling. From there we will make our own decision. ”
Arteta was also asked whether or not he is confident that his young team will be able to keep challenging for titles in the years to come, regardless of the outcome on Sunday:
“I think that assessment has to be done after this season and understand where we are, and then you have to look at the picture and say I feel it.
“It’s very important, you have to still tweak things and move things and move people or players whatever it is, you really need to have that feeling. I think we all had that feeling from pre-season and bringing the players early, we have a chance here.”
Leave a Reply