Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal players are 'lucky' despite week from hell as he fires warning ahead of run-in

The Gunners' hopes of silverware took a blow as they bowed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage following a defeat to Bayern Munich. Prior to this disappointment, Arsenal relinquished their grip on the Premier League title race after a loss to Aston Villa, leaving their championship aspirations hanging in the balance.

However, amidst these setbacks, Arteta remains optimistic about his team's prospects of conquering England. Ahead of a pivotal league clash against Wolves, he urged his squad to maintain their focus and determination and urged them to overcome self-pity.

“I think the players are all very lucky to have had the week that we’ve had,” he said.

“Because these are the weeks that we want and have been seeking for many years to have at Arsenal. You have to deal with that. If you want to be in this position, you have to go through it and it’s going to be tough. Against those opponents, the margins are minimal and you have to try to compete to be better than them.

"But maybe even if you are better, you don’t win? Like what happened at home against Bayern and against Villa. Are you ready to react to that?  If not you’re not ready to be living these kinds of weeks and we want to be living these kinds of weeks. Don’t feel sorry for yourself - if we want to be here we have to be prepared because this is a possibility.”

The Aston Villa loss marked Arsenal's first Premier League defeat in 2024 which underscores the team's remarkable consistency in domestic competitions. And yet they faced severe backlash from the fans for sliding behind in the title race to Manchester City. Arteta sees the criticism and scrutiny that accompany setbacks as a test of character and resolve, challenging his players to rise above adversity and maintain their composure.

“It is testing your resilience and your ego,” he said. “If I take a newspaper and show it to my son, seven days ago after Brighton, and then seven days later Bayern Munich, talking about the same team, they would think it is three years ago. 

“It is the reality of what it is, but we have to live with that. That is the beauty of it, as well. On Saturday you can be at home and you can be the happiest man ever, saying we have a real chance here, let’s go for it with five games to go. We have to make that happen. That is our job.”

As Arsenal prepares to face Wolves, Arteta's message serves as a rallying cry for his squad, reminding them of the resilience and determination required to overcome adversity and achieve their collective objectives. With Manchester City involved in an FA Cup semifinal clash with Chelsea, Arsenal can regain their top spot if they beat Wolves on Saturday, albeit having played a match more.