Mikel Arteta has challenged his title-chasing squad at Arsenal FC to embrace the pressure that comes with competing for the Premier League crown, insisting those who cannot handle it should consider leaving.
Arsenal head into a crucial clash against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur with their title ambitions under scrutiny. The Gunners recently surrendered a two-goal lead to draw with bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, intensifying criticism of their campaign.
Having finished runners-up in each of the past three seasons, Arsenal have faced renewed accusations of faltering under pressure after the setback at Wolves — claims Arteta has firmly rejected. The North London side have won just two of their last seven league matches.
Addressing concerns that external criticism could overwhelm his players, Arteta made his stance clear.
“You ask them the question: Do you want to be part of the noise? Or not? If not go and do something else.
“Be part of a different club or do you want to be Arsenal? And everybody has been demanding for 10 years, 15 years that we need to go back there (fighting for the title), and now we are there, and now what? You don’t want noise?
“Noise is part of it, and the bullets are part of that, and we try to deal with it in the right way and achieve what we are looking for.
“We have to do what we have to do. I don’t think it is going to change for anybody. At the end, you have to win the next match, and if you do that, you are going to be in a much stronger position, and that is the only thing we can control.”
With the title race intensifying, Arteta’s message underscores the expectation that his players must thrive under scrutiny if they are to deliver Arsenal’s long-awaited league triumph.
