7M - Mikel Arteta: Arsenal Convened Meeting to ‘Bring Down Temperature’

Following Sunday’s 3-2 Premier League defeat to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium—a result that disrupted Arsenal’s title momentum after securing only two points from their last three league fixtures—manager Mikel Arteta disclosed he gathered his squad for a reflective session aimed at “bringing down the temperature.” He also urged the club’s concerned supporters to “jump on the fun boat” as the campaign enters its decisive phase. 

Despite recent setbacks, Arsenal retain a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. The Gunners prepare to host Kairat Almaty in Wednesday’s Champions League clash, aiming to preserve their perfect European record this season, while remaining in contention for both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. 

Arteta remarked: 
“The reaction since United has been excellent. We took a moment [on Monday] to bring the temperature down, to pause, to reflect and ask two questions. 
“One was: ‘How do we feel? And how do I feel myself?’ And then: ‘How do we want to live the next four months?’ 
“It was so encouraging and beautiful, because what came out of there [the meeting] is very simple. 
“We have earned the right to be in a great position in four competitions, and in the next four months we’re going to live and play with enjoyment, with a lot of courage and with the conviction that we’re going to win it. 
“This is going to be the mindset and where we’re going to put our energy, and I’m just hoping that everybody that is related to this club, especially our supporters, jump on that boat because this is the way that we’re going to live the next four months because we deserve to live like this.” 

Arteta emphasized the Monday gathering was pre-scheduled, not a reaction to the United result: 
“We do it every three to four weeks. It’s really important to understand the reality versus the perspective, and sometimes you have to look with the microscope and then you have to put the telescope in. You have to be able to see everything with clarity. 
“I told [the players] how good they are, and how grateful we are to share every single day with them, and just to make sure that we enjoy with a lot of conviction that it’s going to happen because it’s our moment and we really want it.” 

When asked whether the club’s recent history—three consecutive second-place finishes and no league title in 22 years—might weigh on fans’ minds (noting some supporters booed after the United defeat), Arteta responded: 
“It’s a possibility but we cannot control that. What happened in the past has to be very powerful to learn for the future. 
“That’s why I encouraged them to jump in this boat because it’s going to be fun, because the excitement, that conviction, that energy, that will, is the way you have to live when you want to achieve a dream. We’re going to give absolutely everything.” 

Team update: Declan Rice and Mikel Merino are suspended for the Champions League encounter with Kairat Almaty. Defenders Jurriën Timber and William Saliba remain sidelined through injury.