Arteta Challenges Arsenal to End New Year Title Hoodoo

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on his side to finally overcome a long-standing New Year curse as the Gunners push for their first Premier League title in over 20 years.

Arsenal sit four points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the halfway stage of the season and are favourites to secure a 14th English league crown. However, history is not on their side.

On each of the last five occasions in the past 23 years that Arsenal finished the calendar year at the top of the table, they failed to go on and win the title. The most recent instance came three seasons ago, when Arteta’s team ended the campaign five points behind Pep Guardiola’s City.

Speaking on Friday ahead of Arsenal’s away clash against Bournemouth, Arteta admitted he was unaware of the statistic but was clear in his response: “Let’s break it.”

The Spaniard said his players are fully driven to end the club’s long wait for the title, having finished runners-up three consecutive times.

“That’s what they transmit every single day when they’re with us, training or in every match,” he said.
“You can see the desire, you can see the energy they put in, how much they want it, and that’s what we need.

“It’s still five months to go, take it day by day, enjoy that process of being where we are and go for it.”

Arteta said morale was high after Arsenal’s emphatic 4-1 win over third-placed Aston Villa on Tuesday, coupled with City being held to a goalless draw by Sunderland.

“It was very good obviously after the game against a really top opposition, again to perform and to win in the manner that we did, great,” he said.
“(Now) focus on Bournemouth. We know how tough it’s going to be, tomorrow’s game, and everybody is going to be at it.”

While pleased with Arsenal’s position midway through the season, Arteta stressed that improvement remains essential.

“I’m happy, but it can always be better,” he said.
“There are things to improve obviously and the only thing we know is that it’s always the next game and we know how tough it is for every opponent to beat them.”

Arsenal have faced injury setbacks throughout the campaign, though defender Gabriel Magalhaes and forward Gabriel Jesus have returned. Midfielder Declan Rice, however, remains a doubt for Saturday’s match after missing the Villa win with a knee issue.

“We have another session today,” Arteta said. “Let’s see how he comes today and how that’s feeling, but that game was too early for him.”

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