Arsenal leaning on WENGER for title run-in

Stuart Telford

• 27 Apr 2024 10:00 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are within touching distance of a first Premier League title in 20 years, and manager Mikel Arteta has been leaning on club legend Arsene Wenger to get them over the line.

The Gunners face Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on Saturday with a one-point cushion to champions Manchester City, albeit having played a game more.

Last season they led the table for months before succumbing to City at the business end of the season, attributed in large part to the back injury sustained by centre-back William Saliba.

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It has now been 20 years since 'The Invincibles' swept to the Premier League title with an undefeated campaign under Wenger, and Arteta, who later played under the Frenchman between 2011 and 2016, has admitted to leaning on him.

"There are moments that are very important in our history and I am sure that a lot of players know about it," he told The Express in reference to the 2003/04 campaign. "It's about making our own history now.

Wenger's role

"I have spoken to [Wenger] a few times. There were certain topics about how they won it and the later stages. He used to talk about that when I was a player. It is always there in the hard drive."

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Arsenal have been linked with a host of big-name players for next season, with Bruno Guimaraes and Ferland Mendy of interest while Joshua Zirkzee, the nascent Bologna striker, has reportedly been offered been offered terms.

Arteta needs one of his current number to step up to the plate for now, though.

"For this time of the season, at the end it is about finding a way to win the game. And that is it. You can do it in various ways when you look at how they won the titles.

"And how [The Invincibles] won certain games with very, very, very close margins. [Wenger] always talked about that, about the fine margins. And who is going to step up on the occasion to make it happen."