MIKEL ARTETA will literally have the Premier League trophy in his sights when his Arsenal side aim for a victory against Everton they hope will see them pip leaders Manchester City in the title race.
Arsenal have to win and City have to slip up at home against West Ham for that to happen and is why there will be a trophy at both the Etihad and Emirates arenas.
Arteta said: “The Premier League trophy hasn’t been at the Emirates yet and it was built almost 20 years ago. That’s a long, long time. We have to be very optimistic. The trophy is going to be there and it’s possible. We have to do our duties and then we wait and see what happens.
“The only thing that we discussed is that we have to give ourselves the opportunity to live a beautiful day on Sunday where the dream is still alive and is possible. It’s football and once we’re there we have to live the moment.
“The moment is to play like every single week, understanding that for the dream to happen we have to win. That’s very certain. Then we have to hope for West Ham to achieve that dream. That part is on us and it’s the only thing we can focus on.
“If I don’t believe today then imagine how much I could believe in August. Then from August with 38 games against Man City, with what they’ve done in the last 12 or 13 years and what we’ve done in the last 20 years in the Premier League, we have zero chance then. We can’t start like this. We have to believe that’s for sure.”
Asked if he will have a member of staff telling him the City score, the Spanish coach joked: “I think 60,000 people will! Plus the staff, the assistant coaches and all the families behind their phones. I think that’s enough.
“It will be a different atmosphere. I lived it as a player on certain times. There will be some reactions to what is happening, that’s for sure. But we have to stay focused on what we have to do.”