by Mikel Arteta has warned Tottenham that his depleted Arsenal side will arrive for Sunday’s north London derby with incredible energy and the belief they will beat their rivals.
Arsenal will begin a pivotal week in their quest for silverware with a trip to Spurs followed by a Champions League opener at Atalanta. They then travel to Manchester City next Sunday.
But the Gunners will be without Declan Rice – suspended for the Tottenham game after being controversially sent off in the draw against Brighton at the Emirates – and summer signing Mikel Merino, who is out with a fractured shoulder.
Captain Martin Odegaard is also expected to be sidelined for some time after suffering an ankle injury during an international with Norway. Arteta has not yet given details on how long Odegaard will be out.
The Spaniard therefore faces a serious reorganization ahead of a game which, he admitted, will lay the foundations for a period already described as decisive for Arsenal.
“This game sets the tone for a lot of moments in the season when you play these big games, these big stages, and there’s a lot at stake,” he admitted.
“It’s also a very emotional game. When you’re able to perform, deliver and win these games, it’s a huge boost, we know that and that’s why we’re going to do our best.
“We have certain limitations that we know. There are certain things that we cannot control and what has happened in the last two weeks is extremely unfortunate. We have to deal with it, but hopefully everything will be very different during the season.
“I want to have the energy, the enthusiasm for the next day, the next game and prepare for it in the best possible way and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to go to Spurs with incredible energy and we believe we’re going to go there to be ourselves and try to win the game.”
After a fortnight of testing for the Gunners, Arteta’s decision to extend his tenure until at least 2027, announced earlier this week, will have provided a major boost to the club.
Arteta has played a key role in Arsenal’s turnaround, winning the 42-year-old admirers around the world.
But when asked if there was another club he would have deserted north London for, Arteta, who has been in charge since 2019, replied: “No, it’s the emotional attachment that I have and my family have, my children have, the experience that I have and the involvement with people. It’s too strong.”
“We all wanted a very different club (when he started). We are going in the right direction. We have made great progress and we still have a lot to do.
“You feel that hunger from the owners, the board, all the players and staff here, and that’s the goal and the objective.
“I couldn’t have imagined a better place to develop my playing career, to discover an incredible football club with the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had. As a coach, it’s been something much bigger and much better than I ever dreamed of.”
