Mikel Arteta Issues Ultimatum to Floundering Arsenal Stars as Title Advantage Slips Away

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered a blunt message to his players ahead of their crucial North London Derby against Tottenham on Sunday, telling them to embrace the pressure of the title race or find another club.

Following a recent draw with Wolves that has intensified scrutiny on their Premier League campaign, Arteta addressed the growing "noise" surrounding his team's title credentials. The Gunners are preparing to face their fierce rivals, now led by interim head coach Igor Tudor, who will be aiming to deal a third consecutive blow to Arsenal's championship ambitions.

With Manchester City closing the gap to just two points following their 2-1 win over Newcastle on Saturday, questions have resurfaced about whether Arsenal can maintain their lead or will once again be overtaken, as has happened in previous seasons.

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When questioned about the midweek stalemate potentially shifting momentum to their rivals, Arteta remained focused. "We have to do what we have to do," he stated. "I don’t think it is going to change for anybody. At the end, you have to win the next match, and if you do that, you are going to be in a much stronger position, and that is the only thing we can control."

Having secured only two wins in their last seven league matches, Arsenal's ability to go the distance has been questioned by fans, pundits, and former players alike. While City have quietly gained ground, Arsenal have been in the spotlight, facing constant discussion about their form.

In response, Arteta's message to his squad was unequivocal: if you can't handle the pressure, you don't belong here.

"You ask them the question: ‘Do you want to be part of the noise? Or not?’" Arteta said. "If not, go and do something else. Be part of a different club, or do you want to be at Arsenal?"

He continued, "Everybody has been demanding for 10 years, 15 years, that we need to go back there (fighting for the title), and now we are there, and now what? You don’t want noise? Noise is part of it, and the bullets are part of that, and we try to deal with them in the right way and achieve what we are looking for."