Arteta Demands Arsenal Embrace Three Key Elements to Shatter Mental Fragility
Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to demonstrate "bravery, passion and belief" throughout the remainder of 2025–26 as the Gunners pursue their dream of claiming the Premier League title for the first time in over two decades—while also chasing a historic Quadruple that no English team has ever achieved.
"We have secured our place in an excellent position across four tournaments, and over the next four months we will experience and compete with passion, tremendous bravery and the belief that we will triumph," the coach stated, maintaining optimism during a challenging period.
"This will be our approach and where we will channel our focus. I truly hope that everyone connected to this football club, particularly our fans, will embrace this journey because this is how we will approach the next four months. We have earned the right to experience this."
Arsenal suffered a devastating 3–2 loss to Manchester United on Sunday, watching their hold on the Premier League summit begin to slip away. However, Arteta described the team's reaction during a squad meeting following that disappointment as "positive and inspiring," which offers hope.
Gabriel, Saliba Must Overcome Fragility Infecting Arsenal
Gabriel, Saliba Must Overcome Fragility Infecting Arsenal
For Arsenal to prevent another late-season collapse, which has occurred in the Premier League during each of the past three campaigns, they must be clinical in the closing stages. This proves challenging for a squad that has yet to cross the finish line and lacks significant trophies for nearly six years, but it begins with eliminating the apparent nervousness that's emerging.
Former Premier League champion defender Phil Jones shared with Sports Illustrated that the central defensive duo Gabriel and William Saliba looked "vulnerable" during the defeat.
"They appeared anxious to me," he continued. "There seemed to be a disconnect between the pair. They detected unease in the ground, that tension. While they weren't terrible by any means, they appeared vulnerable and somewhat uncertain at moments. It's the most unsettled I've witnessed those two players."
Jones believes that the "anxiety and urgency" surrounding the Premier League championship is "contagious" and affected the entire Arsenal squad when Manchester United found their equalizer in the opening period.
Regaining focus to address this issue will demand close attention to Arteta's guidance.
Historic Quadruple on the Line
Historic Quadruple on the Line
However, the vulnerability has been exposed and the Gunners face regular examinations in the months ahead. Premier League action returns with a difficult journey to an intimidating Elland Road this Saturday, where Liverpool encountered a frustrating 0–0 stalemate on New Year's Day and Mohamed Salah reached his breaking point, with Chelsea suffering a comprehensive defeat last month.
Furthermore, for Arsenal to become the inaugural English side to secure a Quadruple, they must complete the Carabao Cup semi-final successfully. The Gunners maintain a single-goal advantage from the opening leg at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea could potentially reverse that margin if any uncertainty or anxiety persists within the Arsenal squad.