Arteta Urges Arsenal To Embrace Pressure Before Fulham — Arsenal Vs Fulham

Arsenal vs Fulham comes with more than three points at stake. Mikel Arteta wants his players to treat the pressure as part of the run-in, and a win on Saturday could move Arsenal six points clear of second-placed Manchester City.

Arteta's Message To Arsenal

The Arsenal manager spoke exclusively ahead of the Premier League and Champions League run-ins and made his point in blunt terms. “I tell them: love it.”

He pushed that message further: “If you want to win the Premier League and want to win the Champions League, what's going to happen? You're going to lose a match and they're going to destroy you. That's it.”

Arteta's line is built for a squad still fighting on two fronts. Arsenal have four league games left and a maximum of two European matches, so every drop in form now lands with the title race and the European bracket still in play.

Fulham At 5.30pm

Arsenal were due to face Fulham live from 5pm, with kick-off at 5.30pm. Saturday Night Football gives them the chance to put pressure on Manchester City before Pep Guardiola's side play Everton on Monday night.

City start that stretch with two games in hand, which is why Arsenal's position can change so quickly. Arsenal had a nine-point lead at one stage of the Premier League season, but April's dip brought City back into the title race.

Arsenal's Title Chase

Arteta also framed the stretch as a test of mentality as much as points. “You want to be there? Love to be there. When you win, love it. When you lose or you don't play your best - and there's going to be games where you lose the ball - love it. You will become better.”

He added: “There's no other way. If you want to be at the very top, people are waiting there. It's normal. It's natural.” Arsenal can move within sight of a first top-flight title in 22 years by beating Fulham, and the next 90 minutes will tell whether that April wobble has really been contained.