Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that Champions League qualification is all the motivation his team needs as they prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
Arteta said that: “The message is clear, if we win against them we are in the Champions League next season. You don’t need any motivation or to tell them anything more than that.”
Arsenal go into the game four points ahead of their rivals meaning that qualification for the Champions League is still in their hands, even if they lose against Spurs.
Arteta was quick to dispel any notion that the lack of jeopardy would change his team’s mindset: “For me, it’s more about excitement and the opportunity and when you have that in football you have to go and deliver and do it. That’s the mindset we all have for tomorrow.”
Arsenal will have to make late fitness assessments on Ben White and Bukayo Saka, with White missing the past two games and Saka limping off in the victory against Leeds.
Antonio Conte stressed the same message as Arteta about the game when he said: “We are talking about an important game for many different situations. The first, and most important thing is, we’re playing this game for an important target – a place in the Champions League.”
Spurs have no new injury concerns ahead of the game as Conte said “It will be the same players who faced Liverpool.” hinting that their lineup would be the same.
*Quotes taken from Arsenal Official Website and Tottenham Hotspur YouTube
