Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has declared that everyone associated with the club has transformed into the “biggest Bournemouth fans” ahead of Manchester City’s pivotal match on Tuesday evening.
Arteta’s side moved to within just one match of winning the Premier League title after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night, courtesy of Kai Havertz’s first goal of the campaign.
The result means the title race will go down to the final day of the season. However, Arsenal’s fate depends heavily on reigning champions City dropping points in their game in hand against Bournemouth.
The match sets up an intriguing subplot, as Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola happens to be a very close personal friend of the Arsenal boss.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Arteta admitted he will be glued to the television screen at home with his family, hoping his lifelong friend can do him a monumental favour.
“We are the biggest fans of Andoni and all the players and all the people that are supporters of Bournemouth,” Arteta said. “I think we all are, because we know that means a lot if tomorrow they can get a result for us.”
When asked if he would be sending a direct text message to Iraola on Tuesday morning to spur him on, Arteta insisted his compatriot requires no extra motivation given the stellar work he has overseen on the south coast this year.
“I don’t think it’s needed,” Arteta added. “What he’s done in that football club, the transformation, and what they are playing for—I don’t think they need anything else.
“When you look at how Burnley played today, the spirit that they showed and how difficult they made it, you can imagine what it will be like tomorrow.”