Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has responded to Gary Neville's comment about what Sir Alex Ferguson would tell Manchester United players. The Gunners face Southampton in the Premier League this evening and could move seven points clear at the top of the table before their huge title decider clash against Manchester City next Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola's side will have two games in hand on Arsenal when they welcome them to Manchester as they are in FA Cup semi-final action this weekend. Following the 2-2 draw against West Ham, Neville offered some key advice to the north Londoners and referred back to what United legend Sir Alex Ferguson would tell his players.
“Sir Alex Ferguson always said ‘if you had to win one game to win the league would you take it?’ And the answer was always yes. [If] Arsenal win at the Etihad they’ll win the league,” Neville on his Sky Sports podcast.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta fires Arsenal 'revenge' warning to Man City ahead of Premier League title decider
“If you were handed this opportunity at the start of the season, that you have to go and win away at a ground to win the league you’d snap someone’s hand off to have that opportunity every single year. So this is something to feel excited about, this is not something to feel pressure about.”
If the Gunners were to beat Southampton and then win at the Etihad Stadium, it would see them retake the advantage in the title race and move a whopping 10 points clear of City. Arteta has now responded to Neville's comments in an interview with Sky Sports ahead of the clash against the Saints this evening.
The Arsenal boss said: “When it’s coming from Sir Alex then it has to be right with the experience he has. You have to do that and be prepared for that. There’s not a more beautiful way to do that."
Arteta revealed that he senses his players want 'revenge' after dropping points in their last two fixtures, allowing City to close the gap at the top of the table. In a separate interview with Sky Sports, Aaron Ramsdale solidified Arteta's claim by admitting he is relishing the title race against Guardiola's side.
When asked how he is finding the title race, the Arsenal goalkeeper replied: "I'm finding it [the title race] intriguing. Obviously it's my first time in this situation and it's a completely different pressure than things I've faced before."
Ramsdale was in the Bournemouth and Sheffield United squad that were relegated from the Premier League in recent years, but is proving he is a top goalkeeper with his performances this term.
"It's more enjoyable pressure, I don't personally feel the strain as much when compared to if you're down the other end [of the table]," he added.
"It's [Premier League title] in our hands. The West Ham game felt like two dropped points from the position we were in [leading 2-0].
"We've just got to win our games and then it's up to us. If we don't [win the title], we've only got ourselves to blame."
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