Arsenal move into the weekend with a seven-point Premier League lead and rising title talk, yet Mikel Arteta insists personal drive is even stronger. The wait since the 2003-04 "Invincibles" season continues,
and pressure grows before facing Manchester United on Sunday.
That advantage could shrink to four points before kick-off at Emirates Stadium, increasing focus on how Arsenal handle this test. Arteta has collected only one major trophy as manager, the FA Cup in 2020, despite being in charge for more than six years.
Arteta stressed that internal desire, not outside talk, guides the title push. "I don't think anybody has more motivation, more hunger, more desire for us to go all the way and win it [than me]," said Arteta, whose side hold a 93.1% title chance according to the Opta supercomputer.
Arteta explained that Arsenal must narrow attention to daily work rather than projections or hype. "But we know that the only way to do it is to focus, be present in the moment, and everything that we have done today, do it better tomorrow. That's it, and that's the only thing that we can control. The rest doesn't add any value to us, and it can take our focus to the wrong place. "
The perfect celebration ilo's 2024 goal against Manchester United pic.twitter.com/pb23lldWMfArsenal (@Arsenal) January 24, 2026
While the Premier League title race dominates debate, Arsenal also sit in a strong Champions League position. The team top the league-phase standings in the 36-club format and are already secure in the top two, ensuring a favourable route into the knockout rounds.
Arsenal’s domestic and European form now intersect at a decisive stage of the season, with the Manchester United fixture another measure of progress. Arteta’s message of control and focus underlines how Arsenal approach both competitions, as the club aims to end the long Premier League title drought.



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