Dennis Bergkamp has urged Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to take Arsene Wenger’s advice of treating every game like a cup final.
Arsenal are gunning to win their first Premier League title in over 20 years this season, and they currently have Manchester City chasing them down.
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Over the weekend, Pep Guardiola’s team looked set to drop points at Anfield; however, Erling Haaland stepped up with a goal and assist in a 2-1 win over Liverpool.
Following the weekend’s results, Bergkamp has now been discussing the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes and made an interesting claim.
Dennis Bergkamp thinks Arsenal are the best Premier League team
Dennis Bergkamp believes Arsenal are the best team in the Premier League right now, and their focus must be on just themselves.
The Arsenal legend insists that the worst thing Mikel Arteta’s team can do is worry about what other clubs around them are doing.
During past title races at Arsenal, the Dutch icon revealed that Arsene Wenger used to tell the players to treat each game like a cup final and just focus on the next fixture.
When asked about Arsenal’s title hopes, Bergkamp told The Overlap: “The danger is that people start to talk about the last few seasons, and if you let that get to you, and you talk about it yourself, then the players will know.
“I feel, I know what Arsene (Wenger) always said, just take every game as a final, focus on the next game, that is the main thing now.
“I wouldn’t be too worried because I don’t feel the other teams are strong enough at this moment, City may be coming back.
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“But I don’t feel that other teams could catch them because they’re going to drop points as well, I would just focus on your own squad. Plus, the big games are yet to come, the difficult period is yet to come.”
Next up for Arsenal is a trip across London to face Brentford; meanwhile, City are at home to Fulham and will have the chance to close the gap at the top to three points.
Ian Wright and Dennis Bergkamp on Arsenal’s
When discussing title-winning teams, Bergkamp and Ian Wright also recalled the confidence which the Arsenal team from 1997/98 had in themselves.
The Gunners went on to win the Premier League that season, and Wright was so excited about the players in that squad.
“Remember when we were in the tunnel, I think it was the year we won the league, and I was in front of you, and I turned, and I said, ‘Dennis, our team’s really good, man’,” said Wright.
To which Bergkamp responded: “This was the first game against Leeds away, we were taking the kick-off, getting ready to take the kick-off, and you looked around like, ‘We could be champions. We could be champions here’. Our team was great, and we didn’t kick a ball yet.”
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