Mikel Arteta has told his Arsenal players to use the disappointment of Thursday’s Europa League exit to fuel their push for the Premier League title.
The Gunners boss does not want his men to experience the same emotions again in May that they felt following their penalty exit at the hands of Sporting Lisbon. That 5-3 spot-kick loss, after a 1-1 draw at the Emirates made the tie 3-3 on aggregate, was the kind that could take the wind from players’ sails.
But Arteta and his men can pick themselves up with the knowledge they can go into the international break eight points clear of title rivals Manchester City — albeit having played a game more and with a game against them still to come at the end of April — if they beat a Crystal Palace side for whom the last few days have also been very tricky on Sunday afternoon.
