EXCLUCIVE: Mikel Arteta Calls On Arsenal To Beat Spurs To Champions League Spot To Reward 'Deserving Fans'

Recently I had the pleasure of a brief audience with Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, and the midfielder called upon his Arsenal team mates to “do it for the fans” Football Manager style when asked if finishing above Tottenham for a Champions League place would be extra pleasurable if it came at the expense of Spurs.

Speaking of the race for fourth, the combative Arsenal man said: “It's going to be tough but it's interesting as well, it's something to play for and we're looking forward to it.”

Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to trump Spurs to reward their supporters' patience

So far so bland, but like many a Gunner, what really appeared to get Mikel’s juices going was the now yearly duel between his Arsenal side and their greatest rivals, Spurs for the final Champions League spot.

Both sides could of course snatch spots in the competition at the expense of Chelsea, but when asked if beating Tottenham to the final spot would be something he’d relish, the Spanish midfielder looked upon edging out Andre Villas-Boas side as a late season present for Arsenal’s long suffering support, now eight years and counting without seeing silverware.

“I hope I think we can give them something because they really deserve it, they've been absolutely tremendous the whole year the way they have been supporting us so hopefully we can give them something back,” Arteta added.

Arteta was speaking before Arsenal’s draw with Man Utd, but if anything the situation has tightened since then, with the Gooners slightly at a slight disadvantage to their two London rivals having played a game more, but with Spurs and Chelsea having to play each other and Tottenham two points behind it promises to be a thrilling climax to the season.

Arteta during his time at Everton

Speaking at the Iron Man 3 premiere, Arteta was a little wistful towards his former club Everton, who’ve now dropped away from the battle for fourth, partially due to a 0-0 draw with his current employers.

Asked whether it was a little heart-wrenching to put paid to the chances of a club he made just shy of 200 appearances for and built up a rapport with supporters that still sees him popular on Merseyside, Mikel said: “Yeah but it's the way it is, football and they wanted to win last week and I wanted to win as well, and I'm going to be like that at the end of the season it's part of the job.”