Mikel Arteta hopes the influence of Arsenal legends can help his side stay ahead of Manchester City in the title run-in.
Invincibles defender Sol Campbell was a guest at Arsenal’s training ground this week as the Gunners prepare to host Southampton on Friday night.
Campbell watched training before having lunch in the players’ canteen with technical director Edu and fellow invincible Martin Keown. After lunch, Campbell mingled with the players and had a long conversation with captain Martin Odegaard.
Arteta and Edu have regularly organised meetings with the current squad and club legends, including David Seaman, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry. They will hope the latest one has lifted the mood after 2-2 draws at Liverpool and West Ham handed the initiative in the title race to City.
Arsenal are currently four points clear of City, who have a game in hand, but a win on Friday would extend their lead to seven ahead of next Wednesday’s crucial clash at the Etihad Stadium.
“It’s great to have them back,” said Arteta. “Sol said to me yesterday that it was 10 years ago the last time he was here, and that’s not right. We need those people, with those experiences with the club, to be closer to the players, to share their experiences and to be around.
“Then the feeling is different. [The current players] were looking up to Sol and some wanted to ask him a few questions. I think it’s extremely helpful.”
Since being appointed, Arteta has stressed the importance of the current Arsenal squad knowing about the club’s successful past. Edu has helped facilitate that, as he played with Bergkamp, Campbell and Henry.
Seaman is usually at the training ground once a week, mainly helping with academy goalkeepers but offering advice to Arsenal’s No1 Aaron Ramsdale if he wants it. Bergkamp and Henry have attended matches and met players afterwards, with former manager Arsene Wenger doing the same on Boxing Day. Campbell was invited to the training ground by Edu and he will be a guest of the club in the directors’ box for Friday’s game.
Arteta wants the atmosphere at Emirates Stadium to be “electric” against bottom-of-the-table Southampton, especially as City are not in League action this weekend. Pep Guardiola’s side are at Wembley on Saturday for an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Sheffield United.
“I think we cannot be grateful enough to the supporters that we have got - at home and away,” he said. “Now it is about doing it to an even different level together and being even more intense, playing every single game with us.
“That is going to make a huge impact in the team, in terms of confidence, belief. The positivity that we can generate is there and as well you can make it really difficult for the opponent.”
