Arteta rallies Arsenal for huge Premier League weekend

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has told his players and fans to “stay present and live the moment” as the club prepare for a huge month in which they could secure a Premier League and Champions League double.

The Gunners are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand, at the top of the table and need three wins from their remaining three fixtures to claim a first league title in 22 years.

On Tuesday, they also reached their first Champions League final for 20 years with a 2-1 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid, and will face Paris St-Germain in Budapest on 30 May.

“We are closer and closer and everything that we do now is going to matter to win it or not,” said Arteta on Friday.

“Stay present, live the moment, prepare and show the same level of energy, hunger and desire that we have showed all season or more.”

Arsenal take on relegation-threatened West Ham at London Stadium in the league on Sunday, Burnley at home on 18 May and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on the final day of the season, 24 May.

While the mood at the training ground is understandably high after their semi-final triumph this week, Arteta said his side’s “energy and detail” is solely focused on picking up three points against the Hammers, who are 18th, one point and one place from safety behind Tottenham.

He also acknowledged the reaction – good and bad – to the club’s celebrations following the Atletico game.

Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney said the scenes at Emirates Stadium were “a little bit too much”, but ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright insisted the “fun police” should not stop players and supporters from enjoying the achievement.

Manchester City, who defeated the Gunners in the Carabao Cup final in March, face Brentford at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, followed by Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa, with the FA Cup final against Chelsea in the middle of those fixtures.

City fought their way back into contention for a potential seventh league trophy under Pep Guardiola with an 11-game unbeaten run, claiming a 2-1 victory over the Gunners along the way.

But a 3-3 draw with Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday meant they uncharacteristically stumbled in the title race.

City were leading 1-0 when they conceded three goals within 13 minutes in the second half. Jeremy Doku’s stunning strike – his second of the game – rescued a much-needed point for Guardiola side.

With three of their remaining four games at home, Guardiola knows the atmosphere at the Etihad will be important.

“I love to play at home, what can I say?” said the Spaniard. “Winning our games is all that we can do.”

At the bottom of the Premier League, West Ham have three games left against Arsenal, away at Newcastle and home to Leeds, to save themselves.

Two wins and a draw in April boosted the Hammers’ chances of staying in the top flight, but a 3-0 defeat by Brentford last weekend, coupled with Spurs beating Aston Villa, has left them back in the relegation zone and lifted Tottenham out of it.

Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo believes London Stadium can play a crucial role in the club’s fight for survival.

“There is no hiding – being at home is good for us,” said Nuno. “Especially recently, our fans are giving us extra, so they’ve been really helpful.

“It’s always nervy in these final games of the season. There’s always anxiety in the games so it is up to us to control our nerves and deliver what we want.”

Asked about his future at West Ham, Nuno, who signed a three-year deal in September, said he does not “have one second to think about next season”, adding: “I don’t have enough energy to think about what’s ahead. It’s tomorrow, then tomorrow, day-by-day.”

Tottenham, who have a better goal difference than the Hammers, face 14th-placed Leeds on Monday, while Nottingham Forest in 16th take on Newcastle at the City Ground on Sunday.