Mikel Arteta vows to ‘DIG for victory’ as Arsenal and Manchester City both face crunch games in title race D-Day, with the Gunners boss admitting he ‘doesn’t want to even think about losing the league’
- Arsenal face Brighton while Man City face Everton in a big day for the title race
- The ex-Everton midfielder said he was hoping to see his side avoid relegation
- EXCLUSIVE: ex-Arsenal star Chuba Akpom is reaping the rewards of hard work
Mikel Arteta will dig for victory as Arsenal and Manchester City prepare to battle it out at opposite ends of the country in Sunday’s Premier League D-Day.
Leaders City go to Arteta’s former Everton home, while the Arsenal manager prepares his side for the visit of Brighton.
One slip for either side could decide the destination of the Premier League title and Arteta is keen to let people know Arsenal will be hammering away at City every step of the way.
He has not given up on the title even though City are favourites with a game in hand and said: ‘We are going to continue to dig — dig, dig, dig, dig. And maybe the prize is there.
‘We don’t know if it’s there [points one way] or there [points another] but we are going to continue to dig just in case it is where we can get to and make sure that we can do our best.’
Mikel Arteta has insisted his side will ‘continue to dig for victory’ as the title race continues
Arsenal defeated Newcastle 2-0 at St James’ Park last week and will play Brighton on Sunday
His side have slipped up several times lately but admits they will continue to fight in the hope Man City drop points
Arteta will first hope for a favour from Sean Dyche’s Everton, the club where he made his name in England as a midfielder, as he also wants his old team to stay up.
He said: ‘They are playing for their life right now and you could see that in the last game against Brighton.
‘Sean has instilled that belief again and that cohesion around the team and the fans to create something special. As a huge Everton fan, I want the best for them and that’s not going to change this weekend.
‘The way they are competing every single week, they had some very good results and some others that deserved more. They have been really, really competitive in the last few months.
‘For sure they are going to give their best but there are teams who are fighting for Europe and others fighting for relegation and others playing the last game of the season at home and you know what that means.
‘Every game has a different meaning and it will be important for sure.’
Asked whether he would prefer to see the championship slip away by one point, or as many as four or five, he said: ‘Or we win it! Who knows?
‘I don’t even want to think about it [losing]. Because the stakes are huge and we are full of enthusiasm to get that prize in the best possible way.
Man City take on Everton on Sunday and Arteta said he hopes his old side win to avoid the drop
He also lauded Sean Dyche (pictured) after instilling the belief back in the Everton faithful
Arteta claimed he also ‘did not want to think about losing the league to Manchester City’
‘To do that, we have to win our matches and the first one is Brighton and they are fighting for something very important. That is what is going to make it really complicated.’
One player extra keen to make his mark on Sunday will be Leandro Trossard, the Belgian forward who has proved to be one of the signings of the season following his unexpected January move to north London from Roberto De Zerbi’s squad.
‘There was a situation there, we wanted the player and they were OK to sell the player to us. When that happens everybody is happy.
‘I love to have him in the squad, he has been great and you can see the contribution he has made.’
