Mikel Arteta issues strong four-word demand to Arsenal stars ahead of crunch week

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MIikel Arteta has told Arsenal to play with “pure fire” as they go into the biggest week of his reign.

The Gunners face Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night looking to secure the club’s first-ever back-to-back Champions League semi final. Arteta then takes his players to rivals Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday in what could be could be a Premier League title decider.

Arsenal’s slip against Bournemouth on Saturday has heightened the pressure but Arteta said his message for the fans and players was: “No fear, pure fire. That's it.

“Pure fire, that's what I want to see from the players, the people, myself. The opportunity is unbelievable. Let's confront it, let's go for it and put everything into it.”

When asked whether there were any nerves, Arteta added: “Fire. I'm on fire. That's it. Nothing else. I’m driven so much. I have done so much to be in this position. I know how this club was. This is beauty.

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“I see beauty and opportunity. I want to get it done for all the people on the journey with us. That's what has driven me every day. Zero fear.”

Arsenal could have to do it without key midfielder Declan Rice who missed training and joins a growing injury list of Bukayo Saka , Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard which Arteta admits is “far from ideal.”

Gunners winger Saka has an Achilles issue and there is no set timescale on his return but Arteta admitted the England star might have to push through the pain barrier to bolster their title bid even if he misses the Champions League tie.

Arteta said: “It is very far from ideal. When you come to this stage you want your best players in the best moment and everybody available and that is not the case.

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“Bukayo is a person who gets frustrated but he does everything that he can to change that. He doesn’t just lie there waiting. He’s constantly looking for solutions and he does everything that he can to make himself available as soon as possible.”

Arteta insisted that his players will prove they have the mentality to win trophies and dismissed the viral social media clip of a City fan taunting Arsenal with a bottle of water because they might blow it again.

Arteta added: “One fan, you mean? Yes. So we have to be one fan that says something. Over 60,000 are incredible every time I’m at the Emirates. I don't get moved by that.

“We have proved that we have the mindset to do all the things that we don't have to this point. Now we have to show on the pitch that we have the mindset to do that. That's what we are. We have to prove to everybody, to ourselves.”