Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has warned Premier League rivals that his players are out for “revenge” after dropping points in their last two fixtures. The Gunners sit four points clear at the top of the table as they fight Manchester City for the Premier League title this season.
City will have two games in hand on the north London outfit when the two sides face each other in a crucial showdown at the Etihad Stadium next Wednesday. Pep Guardiola's side are in FA Cup semi-final action this weekend, whilst Arsenal can move seven points clear with a win against Southampton in the Premier League this evening.
The Gunners have dropped points in their last two games against Liverpool and West Ham, throwing away a 2-0 lead in each fixture. That has seen City become favourites to win the title, but Arteta is convinced that his players will react strongly against the Saints after losing a key advantage in recent weeks.
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Speaking ahead of Arsenal's clash against Southampton, the Gunners boss admitted he sees a 'sense of revenge' in his players are they chase down a first league title since 2004. Arteta said: “I see a sense of revenge and determination to get it even better and that it’s not enough and you have to tweak it and demand more and more of each other.
“You can tell from the way they talked, the way they communicated in the meetings we had. The discussions to understand how we move forward after that.
“It was all the right answers – they were very clear on what we want, how we’re going to do it and why it’s taken us all the way here. That’s what we have to continue.
“We have to be perfectionists but at the same time we have to play with that flow. We are really good when we play with that energy and flow and don’t be thinking about the results. That’s the last thing that we have to do.
“Twists and turns are part of everything that you do especially in football. It’s not always going to be a linear progression. You have to know that and you have to be prepared for that. But the way the team reacted was incredibly positive and we want to see that against Southampton when we get onto that field."
Arteta will hope Oleksandr Zinchenko is available for the game against the Saints this evening after he missed the 2-2 draw against the Hammers as a 'precaution'.
William Saliba is hoping to be available for the crucial game against City next Wednesday, but Arteta offered a worrying update on the Frenchman's recovery earlier this week. Rob Holding looks set to continue on alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in defence, whilst Kieran Tierney could start this evening ahead of Zinchenko.
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