Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal squad and supporters to “stay present and live the moment” as the club enters a crucial month that could see them clinch both the Premier League and Champions League titles.
The Gunners currently sit five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand, at the top of the table. With just three matches left in their campaign, Arsenal need three victories to secure their first league crown in 22 years.
On Tuesday, they also booked their spot in the Champions League final for the first time in two decades, overcoming Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate. They will face Paris St-Germain in Budapest on 30 May.
“We are getting closer and closer, and every action we take now will determine whether we win or not,” Arteta said on Friday. “Stay present, live the moment, prepare, and show the same level of energy, hunger, and desire we have demonstrated all season—or even more.”
Arsenal will face relegation-threatened West Ham at London Stadium in the league on Sunday, followed by home games against Burnley on 18 May and a final-day clash at Crystal Palace on 24 May.
Despite the buoyant mood at the training ground following their midweek semi-final triumph, Arteta stressed that his team’s “energy and detail” are completely focused on securing three points against the Hammers, who sit 18th—just one point and one place above the drop zone but behind Tottenham on goal difference.
He also acknowledged the mixed reactions to the club’s celebrations after the Atletico victory. Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney described the scenes at Emirates Stadium as “a little bit too much,” while ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright insisted that the “fun police” should not stop players and fans from enjoying the achievement.
Manchester City, who beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final in March, face Brentford at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, then Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa, with the FA Cup final against Chelsea sandwiched in between.
City fought their way back into contention for a potential seventh league trophy under Pep Guardiola with an 11-game unbeaten run, including a 2-1 victory over Arsenal. However, a 3-3 draw with Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday saw them stumble in the title race.
City led 1-0 before conceding three goals in 13 minutes during the second half. Jeremy Doku’s stunning strike—his second of the game—rescued a crucial point for Guardiola’s side.
With three of their remaining four games at home, Guardiola acknowledged the importance of the Etihad atmosphere. “I love playing at home, what can I say?” the Spaniard remarked. “All we can do is win our games.”
At the bottom of the Premier League, West Ham have three matches left—against Arsenal, away to Newcastle, and home to Leeds—to save themselves.
A run of two wins and a draw in April boosted the Hammers’ survival hopes, but a 3-0 defeat by Brentford last weekend, combined with Spurs beating Aston Villa, dropped them back into the relegation zone while lifting Tottenham out of it.
Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo believes London Stadium can play a vital role in the club’s fight for survival. “There is no hiding—being at home is good for us,” Nuno said. “Especially recently, our fans have been giving us extra, so they’ve been really helpful. It’s always nervy in these final games of the season. There’s always anxiety in the games, so it is…”
