Arteta: "Every Game from Now Is a Final for Arsenal; Keep Hope Alive"

April 3 – With the international break over, the top five European leagues are entering the final stretch of the season. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta recently gave an interview, discussing the current state of his team.

On Arsenal players returning from international duty
"After this international break, every game is going to be a 'final.' We are very excited. We are about to get into the real action. These are 'make or break' games."

On Arsenal's set-piece training
"Set pieces are crucial for my team. We invest a huge amount of time in training them."

"Nowadays, set pieces are one of the most decisive factors in a football match... 33% of goals in football come from set pieces – whether you score them or concede them. So if you want to compete for every trophy, you have to master set-piece offense and defense."

On how he motivates players
"I use different methods to motivate my players. I communicate the vision of the team we want to become... Through our culture, through the emotional aspect, we build everything through our daily actions."

"Then, for each player, I approach them differently, because everyone feels and reacts differently. The real art is being able to sense that and give them what they need to maintain their motivation."

On the motivation his family gives him
"Coming home every day and being welcomed by my family is wonderful. I have young children, and they greet you with smiles and looks in their eyes when you get home."

On his message to Arsenal fans
"I want to tell the fans to keep hope alive. Stay positive. Stay energetic and support the team. I want to tell the fans that I believe we will achieve our goals this season."

Source: Arsenal Official Website