17 May 2024 , 21:30
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Mikel Arteta spent part of the biggest week of his life watching his kids round the room with their heads in their hands.
But even after the frustration of watching Tottenham captain Son Heung-min miss a chance to derail title rivals Manchester City, Arteta still believes it can finish in style. Arsenal boss Arteta admitted he was glued to Tottenham’s game with City on Tuesday night and went on a rollercoaster of emotions, particularly when Son went clean through but missed the chance to equalise.
Arteta said: “My kids running around the table and going like this [head in hands]. You can imagine. That is magic as well, to have the opportunity to be living it, next to your family and next to your colleagues. Being part of that.
“If I had to pick a player in the Premier League for that moment, it probably would be him. Michael Jordan explained it many times, how many times he had the winning shot. It was always him. Sometimes yes, sometimes he did not manage to do it. This is the beauty of sport, as well. What can you do?
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“The hope was there and it didn’t happen. Now we have to do our job which is going to be tough because Everton are in a good moment.
“It’s one of the biggest weeks for sure for many of us. Certainly now is the most important moment. Can’t wait for Sunday to be in front of us. Very optimistic for the possible outcome.
“So we have to prove again that we can be better than the opponent and win the game. We have to wish for the best and wish for West Ham to have a really good day and help us to fulfil our dream.”
It would take an eternal optimist to believe Arsenal can do it. They face Everton and need to win while hoping City slip against West Ham.
This will be the tenth season in which the Premier League has been decided on the final day and, in the nine previous occasions, the team which started top has ended up winning it.
Son Heung-min's chance could have handed Arsenal title advantage but for Stefan Ortega's save (Getty Images)But Arteta is refusing to give up hope and says he is as optimistic now as he was on day one of the season that Arsenal can end their 20 year wait for the title.
Arteta said: “Jesus, we are in the last day of the season playing for the Premier League. The Premier League trophy hasn’t been at the Emirates yet and it was built almost 20 years ago.
“That’s a long, long time. We have to be very optimistic. The trophy is going to be there and it’s possible we have to do our duties and then we wait and see what happens.
“If I don’t believe today then imagine how much I could believe in August. Then from August with 38 games against Man City, with what they’ve done in the last 12 or 13 years and what we’ve done in the last 20 years in the Premier League, we have zero chance then.
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“We can’t start like this. We have to believe that’s for sure.”
Arteta is also praying that his former manager, ex-Everton boss David Moyes, can help cause an upset with West Ham at City.
Arteta added: “He’s been instrumental in my career. Not just as a footballer, but as a person as well. If he could help us to fulfil our dream and my personal dream to win the Premier League, that will be unbelievable and he’ll always be in my memory that’s for sure.”
Meanwhile, Arteta says that he will only think about his own long term future at the end of the season as his contract will have a year to run but there is no suggestion he is going anywhere.
Arteta added: “That’s something that after the season, or whenever the right time is, we will talk and sit down. What is important is to win now, to keep believing that we can continue to win. That’s the important thing.”
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