Mikel Arteta has called on the Arsenal fans to recreate the atmosphere that helped them reach the Champions League final in Monday’s night’s crunch encounter with Burnley.
Supporters lined the streets around the Emirates ahead of the European semi-final against Atletico Madrid, a game the Gunners won 1-0 to secure a place in the final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30.
Arteta said it was “something special” and hopes for something similar against the Clarets.
He said: ”I loved it. I think all the players and staff loved it. It builds an energy, a connection with them that we haven’t experienced before.
“The whole preparation and the whole atmosphere showed that the level of meaning was higher and the level of implication and desire and passion from the supporters was different as well. It really helped.
“The players were on the other bus but I could see straight away that all the staff and everybody was looking at each other and I said ‘wow’. We’ve taken this to a different level and looking at the engagement, passion of the fans, the enthusiasm in their eyes – it was something special.”
Arteta relishing MNF and says Arsenal will respond to fans’ enthusiasm
Arsenal go into the Burnley game with a two-point advantage over second-placed Manchester City and in pole position to land their first Premier League title in 22 years.
After Burnley, they go to a Crystal Palace side next Sunday that will have one eye on their Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano four days later.
It seems the perfect couple of fixtures for Arsenal and their final home game looks set to be a memorable occasion.
“It’s the schedule that we have,” said Arteta. “It’s been extremely demanding from the beginning and the team has coped with that in a fantastic way. We have the opportunity for our supporters, it’s going to be a Monday night, let’s take it in a really positive way.
“We lived something [with] our supporters, something incredible against Atletico Madrid. I know if we can replicate any of that I know that the team is going to respond really, really well.”
The title appeared to be slipping out of Arsenal’s grasp when they lost 2-1 at City on April 19. Arteta’s post-match call for a “reset” appears to have worked, however, and with City dropping points the title is now Arsenal’s to lose.
Arteta said: ”It was a reset moment. The performance was there… to be even more convinced and to understand what we’ve done up til now is fine, let’s learn every bit of it and use it for the last five games. That’s what remained and we have every chance to go and do it.”
