Arsenal are in ‘perfect frame of mind’ ahead of the final games of the season, says Arteta

Arsenal’s season looked on the brink of collapse last month, but a run of good results has done wonders for the mood. Manager Mikel Arteta said on Thursday that his team will enter the final games of the season in a perfect state of mind.

A League Cup final defeat to title rivals Manchester City in March was followed by an FA Cup quarter-final loss to second-tier Southampton, ending Arsenal’s quest for a quadruple.

Arsenal were also briefly knocked out of the top of the Premier League by City, but four wins in five games in all competitions means the London club go into the penultimate league match with a two-point lead.

It has also secured a spot in the Champions League final, where it will face holders Paris Saint-Germain.

«The team is really present. It lives in the moment. It is in a very good state emotionally. The energy level is the right one,» Arteta told reporters on Monday ahead of a home match against Burnley.

«We have the most players available now. OK, we lost Ben White recently, but the others are coming back too. Everyone is so excited and so positive about how we can end the season.»

Arteta confirmed that defender White had suffered a long-term injury, leaving Arsenal short-staffed at right-back and Jurrien Timber also sidelined.

«We have to look at alternatives. The two players we have are not available at the moment. So we have to look and do something different,» the Spanish manager added.

“The good thing is that we have experienced that across the pitch this season because normally when we have had problems they have been in the same position and we have still managed to find the right level of performance and consistency so I am sure we will do that.”

Arsenal lead the standings with 79 points from 36 games, two ahead of City, but Pep Guardiola’s side have a superior goal difference.

Asked whether Arsenal should score more if goal difference decided the title, Arteta said: «First we have to earn the right to win the game. If you can make a difference with more goals, that’s of course even better. But ideally we know that scoring goals will be important.»

Published on May 14, 2026