ARSENAL'S forgotten club skipper Mikel Arteta is staying put at The Emirates in the belief that the Gunners can win their first Premier League title since 2003.
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| Arsenal's Mikel Arteta has failed to complete a full 90 minutes in the Premier League this season |
The 33-year-old former Everton star has been reduced to a cameo role in Arsenal’s assault on an overdue title.
His late entrance in the 3-3 draw at Liverpool on Wednesday night from the substitutes bench was only his seventh league game of an injury ravaged season – the same total that he managed in the previous campaign.
A number of clubs including West Ham have looked at the possibility of bringing Arteta’s experience to their squad during the January transfer window.
But that would mean the Spaniard giving up on what could be an exciting few months ahead for Arsene Wenger’s side.
Arteta believes the abject disappointment and anger felt in the Gunners’ dressing room after conceding a late equaliser to Jurgen Klopp’s team proves there is a burning desire to land English football’s biggest prize in May.
It’s why today he believes they need to pass another big test when they travel to Stoke City who have sent the likes of champions Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United packing from the Britannia.
Arteta said: “I think we have reacted really well as a group every time we have had disappointments. And we have had some in the past few seasons.
“We have another big game away against Stoke and we have to react. Looking at the Liverpool result, when you have the three points in your hand it is very disappointing to throw them away.
“We were all gutted and angry with ourselves. But there’s nothing we can do now. Obviously, it’s something to learn from but again we are looking for a big win at Stoke and so there’s been no time to be sad or down.”
Stoke under manager Mark Hughes, Arteta admits, constitute a huge challenge for the ambitious Gunners.
“They have shown they can batter the big teams. They played really good football against Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. They didn’t just hit long balls. They have been playing good football and it will be tough again.
“I think Mark Hughes has done a fantastic job. Their recruitment has changed as well. He wants a different kind of football and changed the philosophy completely even though the fans probably were happy with the results.
“But he believes in another kind of football and you can tell he trusts different players.”
But he insists Arsenal are up for the fight – and believes this can be the year Wenger finally silences his critics who believe he will never again win the Premier League.
“Can we win the League? Absolutely. That’s what we want. We are in a great position.”he added. We have been through a difficult period through Christmas. We had a very difficult schedule this week and we got through that again. I think the team will be confident to press ahead,” Arteta added.
Now free from injury he wants to play his part in the title assault and will be involved at Stoke although he might have to be content with a place on the substitutes bench.
He said: “I’m back now and I have been training hard but obviously I need to wait for my chance. It’s not easy when you have to come off the bench but that’s the situation at the moment.”
He refuses to speculate about his longer term future, his current deal ending in the summer.
“My situation is to focus on Stoke and enjoy it when I play on the pitch,” he said.
No one, he insists, can question Arsenal’s strength of character with the Gunners around the top of the table despite a catalogue of injuries affecting some of their best players including Alexis Sanchez, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla.
“Everybody named to play has performed really well. That’s great for the boss as well to keep everybody on board even though some players weren’t having as much game time as they would like,” he added.
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