Mikel Arteta says his Arsenal players are full of hunger and adopting a siege mentality following their Champions League frustration in midweek.The Gunners secured an impressive 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night but still left Spain with a sense of injustice after seeing a second-half penalty award overturned by VAR.Arteta was furious in the immediate aftermath and although he said today he would focus on the return game on Monday, he did admit the sense of wrongdoing had brought his players together.He said: We certainly have that, and we need to face any context, any situation to achieve our goal. What happened the other night was extremely disappointing, and we need to make it happen at home now. I think we have enough fuel in the tank; were playing to win the Premier League, and its exactly where we want to be. Four games to go, its game two, Im ready to go.Table of ContentsArsenal players have hunger, according to ArtetaArteta bemoans loss of injury-plagued HavertzArsenal players have hunger, according to ArtetaArsenal can stretch their lead over Manchester City to six points tomorrow afternoon and place the pressure on Pep Guardiolas side, who will have two games in hand, when they go to Everton on Bank Holiday Monday.Asked what he sees in his players, Arteta said: Hunger, hunger to win, thats it. To compete, to prepare and to achieve the goal that we set at the start of the season.It is a swift turnaround for Arsenal but Arteta says his side have coped with it previously, adding: I want to think about all the turnarounds that we have had, so difficult but that we won. We have prepared the best possible way since the moment that the final whistle went [so] lets go. Weve done everything that we possibly can to give ourselves the best chance to recover, to bring the right energy, to prepare the game in the right way, and now its about the selection and performing on the pitch.Arteta bemoans loss of injury-plagued HavertzArsenal will be without forward Kai Havertz and defender Jurrien Timber against Fulham and Arteta admits the team miss the Germany international, in particular.Hes been a huge miss were talking about one of the most important attacking players we have, and hes been out for seven or eight months, he said. Unfortunately, hes not been the only one with long-term injuries and players who have been missed. The team has shown an incredible capacity to overcome these kinds of scenarios and still be very, very competitive.Fulham beat Aston Villa last weekend and will arrive at the Emirates still in contention for a place in Europe next season.Boss Marco Silva has been linked with the Chelsea job and Arteta is a fan of the Portuguese.He said: Marco is doing a remarkable job. Ive said it many times, in my opinion, he is one of the best managers in the league. The way he sets up his teams, what hes done for the club, its incredible. We know how tough its going to be tomorrow. Topics Arsenal F.C. Fulham F.C. Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Arsenal v Fulham: Line-ups, stats and preview Mitch Fretton 1st May, 2026 Rice insists Arsenal were denied clear penalty in Atleti draw Mitch Fretton 30th April, 2026 FPL: Make sure to dump injured Spurs duo ahead of gameweek 35 Jon Fisher 30th April, 2026 FPL: Time to pick Cherries as Gameweek 35 opens the final chapter of the season Blake Hurst 30th April, 2026 Premier League Predictions: Arsenal and City to stay neck and neck, Tottenham lurch towards the trap door Nicholas McGee 30th April, 2026 Arteta very upset by overturned penalty after Arsenal held by Atletico Nicholas McGee 29th April, 2026
