JAKARTA - Mikel Arteta revealed that he called his players to hold a meeting to reduce tensions after the defeat against Manchester United on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Arsenal's bid for the English League title took a blow after losing 2-3 to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta's squad only won two points out of nine available in the last three matches. However, Arsenal still leads by four points at the top of the standings.
However, the result made his players tense ahead of the Champions League match against Kairat Almaty at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, January 29, 2026, early morning WIB.
Therefore, the Spanish coach assessed that it was necessary to have a casual discussion with his team so that the target of maintaining a perfect record in the Champions League this season could be realized.
"The reaction since the game against Manchester United has been very good. We took the time (on Monday, January 26, 2026) to lower the tension, to stop for a moment, to reflect, and to ask two questions."
"One of them is how they feel and how I feel. Then, how do we want to live the next four months?"
"It's very encouraging and beautiful because what came out of there (the meeting) was very simple. We have earned the right to be in a good position in four events."
"In the next four months, we will live and play with great joy, with a lot of courage and confidence that we will win it."
"This will be the mindset and the place we will pour our energy. I just hope everyone associated with this club, especially the supporters, will participate because this is how we will live the next four months. We deserve to live like this," said Arteta.
The Gunners are also still on a good track to have the chance to win the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. Therefore, Arteta needs the meeting to slightly lower the tension of his team and forget the unsatisfactory results in the last three league matches.
It's not a new thing for Arteta. He always planned it while coaching Arsenal and was quite successful in relieving the pressure.
"We do it every three to four weeks. It's very important to understand reality versus perspective. Sometimes you have to look with a microscope and then you have to use a telescope. You have to be able to see everything clearly."
"I tell them (the players) how great they are, how grateful we are to be able to share every day with them."
"It's just to make sure that we enjoy it with confidence, it will happen because this is our moment. We really want it," Arteta said.
Arsenal have finished as runners-up for the last three Premier League seasons and have not won the league in 22 years.
Therefore, Arteta stressed that to end the title drought, Arsenal must get the full support of the supporters - who booed the team in the defeat against Manchester United.
"We can't control it (the supporters). What happened in the past should be a very valuable lesson for the future."
"That's why I encourage them (supporters) to participate because it will be fun. Because it is the spirit, the belief, the energy, and the will that you must have when you want to achieve your dreams. We will give everything," said Arteta.
Apart from that, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino will miss the match against Kairat due to suspensions, while injured Jurrien Timber and William Saliba are also out.
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