Mikel Arteta hopes Arsenal can continue to 'change the narrative' and maintain control of the Premier League title race against Bournemouth

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Speaking to Owen Hargreaves on The Breakdown, Mikel Arteta said Arsenal's midweek win over Sporting helped change the narrative around the title race. His side host Bournemouth on Saturday before a crunch meeting with Manchester City next weekend. Arteta also praised compatriot Andoni Iraola and his side's squad depth. Watch Arsenal v Bournemouth live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Arteta praises ‘phenomenal’ impact of his Arsenal squad ahead of Bournemouth encounter

Video credit: TNT Sports

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal’s midweek Champions League win over Sporting "changed the narrative" about his side before a pivotal set of games in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners got knocked out of both domestic cups either side of the international break, ending hopes of an historic quadruple as questions of whether the league leaders could hold their nerve increased.

Arsenal, who host Bournemouth on Saturday live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, are nine points clear at the top, albeit having played a game more than second-placed Manchester City.

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The two sides meet at the Etihad next Sunday and City will be buoyed by last month’s dominant Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal.

Speaking to Owen Hargreaves for The Breakdown on TNT Sports, Arteta said: ”That’s exactly where we wanted to be at this point of the season.

"The result against Sporting changed the narrative and the energy in the team in a positive way and so looking forward to what we have earned, now trying to convert it into the dream we have to lift the major trophies.

‘That was my dream’ - Arteta on his desire for Arsenal to be ‘a total team’

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"We are all aligned, we have the same energy that we put into everything that we possibly can to achieve what we’ve earned in eight or nine months of hard work and consistency and now is the moment to do it.

"Go full gas, express yourself, be very positive with everything we do and continue to do a lot of things that we have done to take us where we are.”

Arteta lauds Iraola and ‘really difficult’ Bournemouth

There will be a very familiar face for Arteta in the opposite dugout on Saturday.

He played alongside Andoni Iraola in the Basque academy Antiguoko, which also produced former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Iraola took over Bournemouth in 2023 and has led them to finishes of 12th and ninth.

This year they sit 13th but just seven points off a Champions League spot, despite selling Antoine Semenyo, Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi and Dango Ouatarra for more than £250 million.

Arteta said: ”What he’s done at Bournemouth is just immense. They are on a great run, a really difficult team to beat.

”The reason why is probably the culture and the passion towards the game. The way that we have been raised and educated about the game has given us the platform to become coaches.”

'An incredible story' - Arteta on growing up with Iraola and his 'immense' job at Bournemouth

Video credit: TNT Sports

Arteta also reflected on how increasing his squad’s strength in depth was a number one priority heading into this season.

Last year, major injuries to Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus derailed their title charge as The Gunners ended up 10 points short of Liverpool.

However, signings such as Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke have bolstered the squad, albeit at a hefty cost.

Arteta’s side had the highest net spend in the Premier League last summer and have spent nearly £1 billion since he took over in 2019.

He said: ”We have increased the quality and the size of the squad, now we need to maximise it.

”The amount of games that we finish off with the finishers has been really important. It has been capital for us to be where we are, now we need to continue that.”

Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cups, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

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