Frank Lampard talks to Sky. “We’re coming to a really good team … it’s going to be tough for us … the challenge might not be a bad thing for us, because the players have to react … we have to show what we can do … individually we know there is a lot of talent in the squad but the nature of being a team against what has become a team with a real identity here is a challenge for us … [Aubameyang] has a history of scoring goals and maybe a motivation to play here … Noni has trained really well, and when you come in with a big squad you need players who show something in training and he’s shown that … it’s a big job, it’s a challenge, as a club we’ve been really successful for a long time and this is a year of transition on many levels … that can bring obvious difficulties but also excuses and we have to put those to bed … you don’t succeed unless you have togetherness, standards, spirit, and maybe that’s been affected this year … so it’s difficult to put a time frame on it … it may take time … it has to be a collective … Arsenal are a good reference point … we’ve got a hard run-in but the players have a lot to play for … I see a team low on confidence … but the natural talent is there … this league is unforgiving … I’m very positive about the squad but the players need to work and work hard.”

Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports, considers the six-day break Arsenal have enjoyed since the City defeat. “It was necessary to reset, recharge the batteries and bring some clarity again, and focus on the big game tonight … we conceded too many goals, we had to shake it up, to give people opportunities they deserve … there are players who deserve to play minutes … they have a lot of players who are great on the break and we need some control of the game … City were exceptional on the day and reached a level we could not reach, I cannot fault the players … we didn’t win enough duels the other day … there are a lot of things we have to do much better today … we must play really well tonight, be us … and if we win this game we are top of the league again with four games to go.”

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