Mikel Arteta feels his team can thrive under pressure as Arsenal's title defense enters its vital final stretch.
With a trip to Anfield to play Liverpool on Sunday, Mikel Arteta thinks Arsenal must "embrace" the pressure as they continue their pursuit of the Premier League title.
Arteta's team leads second-placed Manchester City by eight points going into the weekend, although the Citizens have a game in hand and will face Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium on Saturday.
Arteta says it's critical that his team enjoy the scenario they are in and use it as fuel to bring them over the finish line as they attempt to hold off City and prevent Pep Guardiola's club from winning a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.
At his pre-game news conference, Arteta told the reporters, "We do love it, we have to enjoy it. "We must seize the opportunity and push forward.
The team is motivated by the knowledge that they face a significant challenge as well as a significant opportunity to visit Anfield and perform in a way we haven't done in a long time.
The Gunners haven't left with three points from the storied old stadium since the 2012–13 campaign, when goals from Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla earned a 2-0 victory with Arteta playing in midfield for Arsenal. Arteta's team will travel to Anfield with a dismal recent record.
According to Arteta, his squad shouldn't be afraid to play at Anfield since "we've been in a few places where we haven't won in a long time, and we've managed to achieve that." We are able to accomplish it.
"We must improve from the second half of last year, for sure.
It's a different bunch coming from a different perspective, to start with. We need courage, that's what. We'll attempt to be that team on Sunday.
In their desperate attempt to qualify for Europe, Liverpool has fallen short of the heights of prior campaigns, having been eliminated from all cup competitions and currently lying in eighth place in the league.
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