Arsenal's Spanish head coach Mikel Arteta is seen ahead of the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Portsmouth and Arsenal at Fratton Park stadium in Portsmouth, southern England, on March 2, 2020. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta: We have to be in the same mood as Aston Villa

Jul 20, 2020

With Aston Villa still fighting for their Premier League survival, Mikel Arteta knows that his side will need to be at their best on Tuesday night if they are to get anything from the game.

WATFORD, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 28: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Aston Villa at Vicarage Road on December 28, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

Let’s not deny it, if it hadn’t been for Bernd Leno during the first half of the season, there’s every chance we would be closer to Villa than we are to Spurs. Arsenal have collected just 22 points more than Villa this season. We are also 22 points away from Manchester City, and they didn’t even win the league.

Leno is sixth in the number of Premier League saves made with 113 and he hasn’t played the last six-and-a-half games.

Arsenal's German goalkeeper Bernd Leno gestures during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 16, 2020. — Arsenal’s German goalkeeper Bernd Leno gestures during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 16, 2020. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)

But with Arsenal still hoping to finish as high as possible in the table they will be hoping to build on recent wins over Liverpool and Manchester City and to keep their momentum going ahead of their FA Cup final on 1 August.

As such, Mikel Arteta knows he needs to make sure Arsenal are as focused as Villa, something the Gunners aren’t exactly renowned for.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 18: Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal reacts during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matthew Childs/Pool via Getty Images) — LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 18: Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal reacts during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Childs/Pool via Getty Images)

“Absolutely [Aston Villa have everything to fight for], they have massive urgency because they probably have to win both games to have a chance to survive,” said Arteta.

“When you are in that situation where you are fighting for your lives, they’re going to give absolutely everything. We have to be in the same mood, we have to win both games and wait to have a chance to qualify for Europe and that’s the mood I want [from] everyone involved.”

Villa have lost their last three league games while Arsenal go in on the back of two wins and a draw.

Arsenal have also not lost to Villa since that opening day game at the start of the 2013/2014 season when Anthony Taylor fully introduced himself to Gooners everywhere.