LONDON: Mikel Arteta said Tuesday that Arsenal may have to win all of their nine remaining Premier League games if they are to be crowned champions as he prepares for the “most beautiful part of the season.”
The second-placed Gunners are two points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of a busy April schedule following Sunday’s gritty goalless draw at title rivals Manchester City.
Arteta, who is also preparing Arsenal for a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, urged his side to embrace the challenge, starting with Wednesday’s game at home to relegation-threatened Luton.
“It’s going to have to be really close to that,” he told a pre-match press conference when asked if Arsenal need a 100 percent record from now on to finish top of the table.
“When you see the level and the consistency of the other teams and historically what is needed to win in this league, it’s not going to be very far from that.”
The Spaniard added: “This is where we want to be and now we want to take this opportunity and make it happen.
“We worked every single day with that enthusiasm and passion to make it happen and enjoying the moment as well.
“I see the team really flowing and they are really excited about playing each game and that has to drive this energy until the end.
“I am full of energy and it’s the most beautiful part of the season.”
Arsenal’s fixture against Luton is the first of eight matches this month, including the two clashes with Bayern.
Although they will be huge favorites to beat Luton, they needed an injury-time winner to leave Kenilworth Road with a dramatic 4-3 victory in early December.
Asked about his memories of that game, Arteta said: “Especially how tough it was to win there, how difficult they have made it for every team...They deserve more credit than any other team in this league, how they’ve done it, what they transmit as a team and what they generated and it’s going to be a really tough match.”
Arteta says Arsenal may need perfect run-in to win Premier League
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Arteta says Arsenal may need perfect run-in to win Premier League
- The second-placed Gunners are two points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of a busy April schedule
- Arteta urged his side to embrace the challenge, starting with Wednesday’s game at home to relegation-threatened Luton
Premier League’s Nottingham Forest fires head coach Sean Dyche
- “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach,” the club said in a statement
NOTTINGHAM: Nottingham Forest has fired Sean Dyche and the Premier League team is looking for its fourth head coach of the season.
Dyche was relieved of his duties late Wednesday following a goalless draw with the last-place Wolves, having been in charge for just 114 days. Forest’s failure to convert any of their numerous chances against Wolves left them three points clear of the relegation zone.
“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach,” the club said in a statement early Thursday. “We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the club and we wish them the best of luck for the future.
“We will be making no further comment at this time.”
Forest finished seventh in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo last season, missing out on a Champions League spot after a poor end to the campaign. Nuno signed a new three-year deal at the City Ground in June 2025, but was fired in September after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was swiftly brought in as the Portuguese coach’s replacement, but lasted only 40 days in the job with Marinakis ending his tenure within minutes of a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.
The draw Wednesday’ left Forest with just two wins from their last 10 matches in the Premier League — a run during which they also exited the FA Cup to Championship side Wrexham.
