Mikel Arteta addresses nervous Arsenal fans ahead of Aston Villa clash

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has acknowledged the nervous energy inside the Emirates Stadium — but insists he wants to use it as fuel, not fear, as the Gunners prepare for a defining Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

Arsenal edged past Brighton 2-1 at the weekend to remain two points clear at the top of the table, yet what should have been a routine afternoon turned tense after Diego Gómez pulled a goal back midway through the second half.

After racing into a 2-0 lead shortly after half-time, Arsenal appeared in control before conceding in the 64th minute. The shift was instantly felt in the stands, with anxiety creeping into the atmosphere.

Arteta admitted he sensed it.

“When you just conceded in the last minute in the game before, against Crystal Palace, after we didn’t really concede nothing (chances), and then they score with the first shot that they had, obviously it is nervous,” Arteta said.

“But we have to be able to go through that as well with normality, showing composure and understanding that if you are not efficient in the opponent’s box, then you have to be incredibly good in your own.”

Rather than dampening emotion, Arteta believes it is an unavoidable — and even necessary — part of competing at the top.

Asked whether playing with such emotion is sustainable, he replied: “Yes, from my side, yes.”

Despite winning seven of their last ten matches in all competitions, Arsenal have not won a Premier League game by more than one goal since a 2-0 victory over Brentford on December 3. That pattern has added to the tension around late-game situations.

Arteta believes the crowd’s nerves are rooted in desire rather than doubt.

“It’s the willingness to win,” he explained. “We all want to win so badly that it’s like, ‘No, I don’t want to lose what I have.’

“We have to play to continue to score and show that composure. We should have scored the third one. We had two massive chances to make it 3-1 and then it would have been different. We didn’t — so we have to suffer a little bit more.”

That willingness to suffer, Arteta argues, is part of becoming champions.

Tuesday’s clash with Aston Villa now looms as a pivotal moment in the title race.

Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has enjoyed success against his old club, and Villa defeated Arsenal just three weeks ago. Another win would see the sides level on points — dramatically tightening the race at the top.

Having followed Arsenal closely this season, this fixture feels like a psychological test as much as a tactical one: can the Gunners harness emotion rather than be consumed by it?

Arsenal must strike the balance between intensity and composure when Villa arrive. With the title race tightening and pressure mounting, Arteta’s challenge is clear: turn nervous energy into momentum — not hesitation.

Can Arsenal channel the Emirates crowd’s emotion into belief — or will Aston Villa exploit the tension again?