Arsenal play Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday before the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid just three days later
Mikel Arteta has challenged his trophy-hunting players to “define the history of the club.”
The Gunners face Fulham on Saturday tea time followed by Atletico Madrid just three days later as they push for a place in the Champions League final. Arsenal can pile the pressure on Manchester City by going points clear at the top if they beat Fulham and Arteta delivered a rabble-rousing message to his players.
It represents the biggest week of their season and Arteta said he expects his players to push themselves to the limit to ensure they get themselves over the finishing line. Gunners boss Arteta said: “We know what’s at stake. We need to push it.
"Everybody has to lead himself and take ownership of the moment because the impact that you can have in the moment now is going to define the history of the club. That’s a very powerful thing to have.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page
“When you have the opportunity to make history in such a way you have to embrace it. That’s it. That’s what we’ve been working for, that’s the goal we set at the start of the season, so when you pursue a dream and you have it in front of you you have to do your best to achieve it. There’s nothing else but bringing out your best. That’s it.”
Arteta admitted that Arsenal have invoked a “siege mentality” after the sense of injustice following their 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid.
They feel they were denied a clear penalty after a VAR review, Atletico boss Diego Simeone was screaming at referee Danny Makkelie as he checked the video screen while they were unhappy with the state of the pitch. They are weighing up whether to make a complaint.
When asked about the siege mentality, Arteta added: “We certainly have that. We need to face any context, any situation to achieve our goal. What happened tonight was extremely disappointing and we need to make it at home now.
“I don't know anything (about whether an appeal has been made). I haven't spoken to them in the last few hours, so I don't know. We'll deal with that on Monday. Now it's Fulham.
“I think we have enough fuel in the tank. We're playing to win the Premier League. It's exactly what we want it to be. Four games to go, this game too.”