Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants ‘best atmosphere’ for north London derby against Spurs

LONDON – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants everybody involved and motivated for their English Premier League derby clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Jan 15, following their FA Cup third-round disappointment three days earlier.

The Gunners lost 5-3 on penalties to Manchester United after extra time in the FA Cup, despite the Red Devils playing with just 10 men after Diogo Dalot’s red card in the 61st minute at the Emirates.

Arteta insisted that his team should have won, but that match is over and now he must turn his attention to the league.

Arsenal are still the only team with their unbeaten Premier League home record intact this season, and the last thing they would want is to lose it at the hands of arch-rivals Spurs.

“Probably the nicest game of the season to watch and to play. What it means to our people,” said Arteta on Jan 14.

“This is something that is in our hands... Let’s create the best atmosphere that we have ever played at the Emirates.

“That’s the objective. Players, staff and the supporters that turn up. It’s something we can do, so let’s do it.”

Arteta knows that his men must get back to winning ways soon.

The loss to United came after a 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United in the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals. Before that, the Gunners drew 1-1 with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium in the league.

Should they lose to Tottenham, they could sit nine points behind Liverpool, depending on how the Reds fare against Nottingham Forest on Jan 14 – that match kicked off after press time.

Arsenal and Forest were both on 40 points before this midweek round of matches, six behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

Arteta’s men have now not kept a clean sheet in their last four games in all competitions, but the positive is that they have also not conceded in their last four league matches at the Emirates.

Arsenal will be without the injured Gabriel Jesus, who was stretchered off in the United game.

He joins Ethan Nwaneri, Bukayo Saka, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the treatment room, while Riccardo Calafiori is a doubt.

“It’s not looking good at all. We need to review it more (with the) specialist.

“I don’t want to confirm anything until we have the report,” Arteta added of Jesus’ suspected anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

On his team’s transfer plans for this January window, he said: “We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad, that has been the same since Day 1. We are looking, we are trying. Let’s see what we are able to do.”

As for Tottenham, manager Ange Postecoglou could miss a long list of players, including Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, Richarlison, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Spurs head into the match following a lacklustre 3-0 win over National League side Tamworth in the FA Cup, with all three goals scored in extra time.

However, they are chasing three consecutive wins for the first time since early October.

Their recent form might be deceiving though, as Postecoglou’s inconsistent side have claimed just one point from the last 12 on offer in the league. They remain in the bottom half of the standings.

That said, a derby match has a different feel to it and former Premier League striker Michael Bridges believes that Tottenham can also take advantage of Arsenal’s mini blip in form.

Speaking on the Optus Sport Football Podcast, he said: “Going into this fixture after the Arsenal defeat (by United), Tottenham have got a right opportunity to make something of this game and revitalise or rejuvenate their season.

“You can have a dodgy start to the season like Ange has had, you can say there’s been injuries but, when you’re playing in the north London derby, this fixture, you’ve got to win it.”