Mikel Arteta reveals chat with Arsene Wenger ahead of Arsenal’s title run-in
The Spaniard has been picking the brain of his former manager.
Mikel Arteta has been getting advice from former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as the Gunners prepare to continue their Premier League title pursuit against north London rivals Tottenham.
In all likelihood, Arsenal need to win their remaining four matches – against Spurs, Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton – and hope Manchester City drop points.
The Gunners can re-establish a four-point advantage over Pep Guardiola’s side if they win away at Tottenham on Sunday, with City not playing against Nottingham Forest until later in the day.
On Thursday, it was the 20-year anniversary of the 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane that crowed Wenger’s Arsenal as champions in 2004, with Arteta now looking to create his own piece of history in Tottenham’s backyard.
He has even been speaking to three-time title winner Wenger as he looks to topple City and says, at this stage of the season, results are the only thing that matter.
Asked if he has had the chance to speak to Wenger and get some title tips, Arteta replied: ‘I have spoken to him a few times about certain topics.
‘About how they’ve won it [in the past] and the latter stages. He used to talk about it as well when I was a player, so that is always there in the hard drive.’
Probed on what he has taken from Wenger, Arteta continued: ‘For this time? That at the end it’s about finding a way to win the game. And that’s it.
‘You can do it in various ways, when you look at how they won their titles and how they won certain games, with very, very, very close margins.
‘He always talked about that, about the fine margins and who is going to step up in the occasion to make it happen.’
Asked if Arsenal’s current crop of players will look to take any inspiration from that famous win at White Hart Lane two decades ago, Arteta added: ‘I understand that, but that’s not going to happen mathematically, even if we do win it.
‘But there are moments, obviously, that are very important in our history and I am sure that a lot of players know about it.
‘Certainly the staff and the ones that have been here long enough know about it. It’s about making our own history now.’
Arsenal go into Sunday’s clash off the back of a thumping 5-0 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday night, while Tottenham have had two weeks off and have not played since they were dismantled by Newcastle at St James’ Park.
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