Arteta urges Arsenal to break New Year Premier League curse

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his team to break their New Year jinx as the Gunners battle for their first Premier League title in more than two decades.

Arsenal are four points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the halfway point of the season and remain favourites to claim a 14th English league crown.

However, on the previous five occasions across the past 23 years when they have ended the calendar year on top of the table, they have failed to win the title.

The most recent occasion was three seasons ago when the Gunners finished the campaign five points behind Pep Guardiola’s City.

Speaking on Friday, on the eve of the Gunners’ trip to Bournemouth, Arteta said he was not aware of the dispiriting statistic but added: “Let’s break it.”

Arteta said his players were desperate to be crowned English champions for the first time since 2004 after finishing as runners-up three times in a row.

He said: “That’s what they transmit every single day when they’re with us, training or in every match.

EPL: Man City charge stalls at Sunderland as Leeds hold Liverpool

“You can see the desire, you can see the energy they put in, how much they want it, and that’s what we need.

“It’s still five months to go, take it day by day, enjoy that process of being where we are and go for it.”

Arteta said his players were in buoyant mood after thumping third-placed Villa 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, with City held to a goalless draw by Sunderland two days later.

The Spaniard added: “It was very good obviously after the game against a really top opposition, again to perform and to win in the manner that we did, great.

“Focus now on Bournemouth. We know how tough it’s going to be, tomorrow’s game, and everybody is going to be at it.”

The Star