Mikel Arteta vows to focus mind games on his Arsenal team

It is that time of the season — the stakes are rising, targets are in sight, rivalries are heightening and the mind games are beginning. Except all that is mostly lost on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Of the sides chasing fourth place, Arsenal start the run-in with the advantage and they are favourites, according to Tottenham manager Antonio Conte. Having started the season more concerned about escaping the bottom three, Arsenal are now considered the team with it all to lose.

When asked if Arsenal are now being put under pressure by Conte, Arteta replied: 'I don't know. That is a question for him. But what we want to do is clear and the perception of what people think is not going to change it.'

While he was keeping his cards close to his chest on his mind games strategy with other managers, Arteta said: 'I do it more with my players, I think, if I have to. To get what I want from them.'

Arteta was not keen to reveal much more 'because they will know what we are doing and that is the whole point!'

But whatever he is doing, it is working. Since that pointless and goalless start which left Arsenal bottom after three games, Arteta has steadily and impressively steered his side up the table.

Though how many realistically thought Arsenal could go from having no European football this campaign and a Champions League drought since 2017 to returning to Europe's elite club competition in one season is debatable. That goal is now well within reach. 

Expectations on his young side have changed but Arteta insists his players can cope. 'There is nothing different, they have been dealing with it for weeks,' he said. 

'This is a conversation we have had for six to eight weeks, so they have already been through that and have responded