Mikel Arteta makes demand to Arsenal fans ahead of decisive Burnley clash

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Mikel Arteta has described the Emirates crowd as Arsenal’s “12th man” in the title challenge.

Gunners boss Arteta insists the fans can be the “magic player” as Arsenal chase the two victories needed to help them win the club’s first Premier League in 22 years. Supporters are organising a huge “greet the bus” precession ahead of Monday’s clash with Burnley to try and whip the atmosphere.

It has been nervous at times during the title run-in but Arteta says the fans are the ones who have made all the difference.

Arteta said the fans are: “Our 12th man and the magic player. When the stadium provides that level of energy, passion and optimism, they play every single action with the team.

“When we have the ball, when the opponent has the ball, in every element, they live the game like that. The value of that is just infinite. I think you cannot measure it and the team becomes different. It is as simple as that.”

Arteta played at Arsenal and was captain during some difficult times at the end of Arsene Wenger ’s reign when the crowd turned on the players.

But it really struck with him when he was Pep Guardiola ’s No2 at Manchester City and he saw half empty seats in the home end and disaffected, fed-up fans.

It was his first mission to turn it around and now Arsenal are aiming to repay the faith with trophies.

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Arteta said: “It was the first thing because a few days before I was appointed here I was on the other bench with Man City and that image, that feeling of the stadium, the crowd ... 50% of the stadium was empty.

“It really got into me. I said: ‘with this, there is no project, there is nothing that we're not going to do. This is not going to work.’

“Unfortunately it got worse very quickly because then COVID hit and then instead of 50% we have zero. So you make the job even harder.

“So after that we had to rebuild everything. But when it's harder at the beginning, then it's better. So to see that transformation and that joy in the people, it's something that is beautiful to watch.”

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