Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta responds to Bukayo Saka demand with timely reminder

Arsenal play Southampton on Saturday seeking for another Premier League success, with Bukayo Saka this week stating there are no more excuses, and they need to win major prizes.

Mikel Arteta doesn’t mind Bukayo Saka pumping up Arsenal’s title hopes, even when their arch rivals visit town.

After the Gunners’ Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, England winger Saka felt confident enough to declare “this is the year” for Arsenal to capture the Holy Grail after a 21-year wait since the Invincibles.

Normally, Arteta would avoid title talk, especially six fences into a 38-game steeplechase. However, interim captain Saka was given full reign by his boss to whisper the odds from the rooftops (he never yells when hushed tones are available) as a statement of Arsenal’s growing optimism that their moment has come.

Arteta stated: “They are allowed to discuss it and share their thoughts, and if they believe that is the fact, that is fantastic, since believing is the first requirement for achieving any desire or goal in life. What I can say is that we have just played six games and are a long way from reaching our goal.”

Arsenal’s 15-game undefeated record in all competitions is Arteta’s longest as manager, but few opponents bring out the Bermuda Triangle in the Gunners like Southampton.

Mysteriously, Arteta has only won two of his past seven games with Saints, including a horrific 3-3 draw on the last day 18 months ago, which effectively ended their title hopes despite leading the table for 248 days that season.

No club has been at the peak for as long as Saints, yet no one enjoys turning off the ghettoblaster at a party in north London more. That crazy six-goal thriller began with Aaron Ramsdale’s heinous blunder, which gave Saints the lead after only 28 seconds.

Ramsdale will be in the enemy camp this afternoon after losing the top spot to David Raya, but Arteta believes there will be no ill will.

“I am grateful for what he did for us,” stated the Arsenal manager. “When we signed him, there was a lot of buzz about him, but we helped to create the environment he required because we believed in his abilities.

“He demonstrated it and earned the respect and admiration of all of us, but then the circumstances changed because this is top sport and anything can happen. Then it became impossible to cope with the issue in a natural manner, so we decided to separate ways. I hope he is thankful as well.

Arsenal has only won two of their previous seven games against the halos that fit like a crown one week and a noose the next, and Arteta admitted: “We have surrendered some really careless goals in those games, and we haven’t been consistent enough games against them like we should have.

“I believe we deserved better outcomes in some of the games, but not all. We understand the significance of this match. Last week’s 4-2 victory over Leicester, which included two stoppage time goals, demonstrated our difficult schedule.

“Even when you believe you’ve got the game under control, it may quickly escalate. We know Southampton’s quality; they’re really well-coached, have a clear philosophy, and have been very unlucky not to have many more points.”