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Mikel Arteta confessed it "feels great" to hear Arsenal fans singing his name after his side made another leap forward in pursuit of Champions League qualification.

The Gunners defeated Aston Villa 1-0 on Saturday afternoon thanks to a first-half goal from Bukayo Saka. The result increased their stranglehold on fourth place in the Premier League table, with a four-point lead and a game in hand over Manchester United.

Finishing in the top four seemed like a pipe dream for Arsenal fans in the early stages of the season after successive losses to Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City. However, their form drastically improved and they have won six of their last seven top-flight games to take control of the competitive race for fourth.

The travelling supporters at Villa Park left Arteta in no doubt about their delight as players and staff applauded them after the full-time whistle. A bellowing chant - which also references Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli - could be heard with the lyrics: "We've got Super Mik Arteta, he knows exactly what we need, Kieran at the back, Gabi in attack, Arsenal on the way to Champions League!"

Arsenal have not played in Europe's premier club competition since the 2016/17 season when they were managed by Arsene Wenger, but Arteta is poised to end their wait and admitted he is a fan of the new chant.

"That's why it