Mikel Arteta has insisted Arsenal possess the belief that they are good enough to win the Premier League title but must prove it by beating Manchester United and ending their poor record at Old Trafford.
Arsenal’s only victory in their past 16 trips to face United came in November 2020 in front of no spectators, while Erik ten Hag’s side won the corresponding fixture last season in what was the only defeat Arteta’s side suffered in their opening 19 matches of the campaign.
But with his players having proved they have learned from their experiences after missing out on the title to Manchester City last season, the Arsenal manager said they must keep the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side by overcoming United.
“If you want to win the Premier League and big trophies, you have to go to these grounds and impose yourself and beat them,” said Arteta. “That’s the journey we are on and that’s for sure what we are going to try to do on Sunday.”
Asked if there was a moment when he first thought his team was capable of winning the league, he added: “I started to have that feeling last season, when we started to be very consistent and very ambitious. I could see that the standards weren’t dropping day by day.
“Obviously the moment that you start to add other pieces to the puzzle and players start to have more experience, start to keep improving, you build some momentum. Around the club as well there is that sense that we can do it, that we are good enough to do it. It has been a journey.”
Arsenal famously sealed the Premier League title at Old Trafford in 2002 thanks to Sylvain Wiltord’s winning goal but have only earned four victories there during the Premier League era – all by a 1-0 scoreline. Arteta revealed last month that he has been consulting Arsène Wenger about what it takes to get over the line in a title race, with the former Arsenal manager stressing the importance of fine margins.
But while Ten Hag has faced criticism from former players such as Paul Scholes over the past week after United’s 4-0 mauling at Crystal Palace on Monday, Arteta’s squad has been drawing on advice from some of the club’s legends during the course of the season.
“It’s very important. They are a huge part of the great history of this football club,” he said. “Anything that they can add to the team and club, whether it’s stability, inspiration, experiences, it is more than welcome. They are getting closer and closer. They have been in the training ground many, many times as well. It’s something very important and powerful for our club.”
