Gary Lineker delivered a message to Arsenal players following their surprise 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, with the vital Manchester City clash looming at the Etihad
Gary Lineker says Arsenal must revel in the Premier League title situation
Gary Lineker has delivered an X-rated verdict on the mindset he believes Mikel Arteta will be drumming into his Arsenal squad following their latest blow, the 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth. As the Premier League enters its crucial closing stages, every slip-up threatens to unsettle the players, though Arsenal will have the opportunity to regain their composure when they meet their direct challengers next weekend.
With Manchester City possessing a game in hand against Crystal Palace, the margins are razor-thin – it is essentially now or never for Arsenal. During his regular slot on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker considered the weight Arsenal’s players will be experiencing at this juncture of the campaign and delivered an unambiguous verdict.
“This is genuinely what I believe and it’s easier said than done but it’s something that I did,” Lineker said. “You’ve got to revel in the situation, you’ve got to enjoy the pressure.
“Where do you want to be in the middle of the table? You’re fighting for the glory, this is it. And if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen but my God, enjoy it.
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“It’s like amazing, like buzz of going out into big games, World Cups, league title deciders, FA Cup finals. That’s what you dream about so don’t be scared. It’s easy to say and we’re all different, we handle things in different ways.”
Arteta did not hide his frustration after the defeat to Andoni Iraola’s side at the Emirates on Saturday. “But don’t be scared of it when it arrives, that’s what you’ve dreamed about.
“If I were the coach, that’s what I’d be saying to them, ‘you’re doing amazing, you’re flying, you’re six points top of the league Arsenal players. You’ve done that because you’re so good, this is going to be the title charge, let’s f****** relish it.’”
Arteta made no attempt to conceal his frustration following the defeat to Andoni Iraola’s side at the Emirates on Saturday. “Disappointing,” he told TNT Sports. “It’s a big punch in the face and it’s about how we react now.”
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes took a blow over the weekend(Image: Getty Images)
“They are a team who haven’t lost for 11 games for a reason, they did a lot right. We were far from efficient. The first chance they had to attack the box, it’s a deflection, a bad defending action and it’s a goal.”
“That’s something we have to recover from. The second half you expect a different game. We did a lot of strange things today. We have been very consistent. This can happen, this is football.”
Arsenal’s next challenge sees them travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City on Sunday, April 19 (4:30pm).
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