Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal stars to stay humble during the Premier League run-in and said he is willing to ditch his ideology to win by any means necessary.
Arsenal had just 27 per cent of possession and two shots on target during Sunday’s goalless draw at Manchester City.
Ahead of Wednesday’s match at home to Luton, Arteta said of those statistics: ‘It’s sometimes because you want to adapt and sometimes because you have to adapt and have that resilience. Leave your ego and ideology aside and do what you have to do to win the game.
‘The team were mentally really strong and clever the way they did it (against City). When you feel you have what it takes to go and win, at the end you are not satisfied (with a draw). But you have to understand how we are growing and be smart enough in certain moments to accept something else.’
Arsenal have eight matches this month, meaning Arteta will have to turn to fringe players such as Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson. He has reminded his squad that it takes ‘just a second to change the history of a football club’.
Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal stars to stay humble during the Premier League run-in
Arteta reminded his squad that it takes ‘just a second to change the history of a football club’
The Gunners boss added: ‘Our duty is to be prepared to play any minute in any moment.
‘Look at the example of Reiss. His best moment for Arsenal (a 97th-minute winner against Bournemouth last season), it’s a moment where he played a few minutes and made a huge impact.
‘It’s one of the best days in his life as an Arsenal player. No one remembers if he started or if it was off the bench.’
