Arsenal are still keeping pace with Manchester City in the Premier League title race, but will need them to drop points if they are to taste glory this season.
Man City have a game in hand, and are set to face Fulham before clashes with fellow London teams in Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.
Pep Guardiola’s side drawing even one game would put Arsenal back in the driving seat, with the Gunners set to face Manchester United and Everton in their final two games.
Arsenal fans are now hoping that Fulham can pull off an upset at Craven Cottage to help Arsenal win a first title since 2004, and there are three ex-Gunners in their ranks in Bernd Leno, Alex Iwobi and Willian who will be eager to help their former side.
Mikel Arteta has now admitted that he believes Fulham can achieve a favourable result despite the odds, and Leno has also revealed that Arsenal players have encouraged him to help them out.
Mikel Arteta admits hope Fulham can help Arsenal in title race
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta was asked about a clip of Fulham players flying kites in training, which caused worry among Arsenal fans that they would be ‘on the beach’ by the time Man City visited West London, but he praised the idea of team bonding ahead of a big game.
“The power of team bonding, nobody knows what it is but sometimes you get amazing results with it,” he stated.
“I’ve been in teams that have struggled to win a game and go out for dinner or do an activity and start an unbelievable run, so I’m very positive that that’s going to happen to Fulham!”
Bernd Leno hoping to help Arsenal win Premier League title
German goalkeeper Leno played for Arsenal between 2018 and 2022, but was ultimately sold by Arteta in favour of Aaron Ramsdale.
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Leno is still rooting for his former side, and has now revealed that Arsenal players have already texted him about the possibility of keeping Man City at bay.
“My focus is 100% on our club and our performance,” he told Fulham club media.
“And yeah if we take some points from City, I think a lot of Arsenal boys will text me.
“A couple of them have texted me already and I said to them, ‘guys don’t worry we will give 100%.'”
Arsenal fans will now be hoping that their former number one can pull out one more masterclass to keep the likes of Erling Haaland at bay, and Arteta is clearly still optimistic that there is another twist to come in the race.