Arteta: “Supporters are our magic player” | Press conference

Mikel Arteta described our home support as the magic player as we prepare for our final Emirates Stadium match of the season against Burnley.

We host the Clarets in N5, looking to extend our lead at the top of the Premier League table before Manchester City head to Bournemouth on Tuesday, May 19.

Our manager knows the significance of home support, having described the atmosphere during our 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid as “unique”, and believes it can help us once more on Monday.

When asked about the importance of the supporters, he described them as “our 12th man, and a magic player, I would say.

“Because when the stadium provides that level of energy, of passion, of optimism, of playing every single action with the team. When we have the ball, with us, when the opponent has the ball, against the opponent, in every element, they live the game like that.

“The value of that is just infinite. You cannot measure it, and the team becomes different; it’s as simple as that.”

Preview: Arsenal v Burnley

The match comes eight days after our 1-0 victory over West Ham United at London Stadium, one of our longest breaks between games in 2025/26.

Mikel revealed his side is in a great place and is focused on the task at hand.

He said: “The team is really present, it’s just living the moment, it’s emotionally in a really good state, I think, it’s the right one. We have most players available now. OK, we lost Ben (White) the other day, but the other ones are coming back as well.

“Everybody is so enthusiastic and so positive about the way that we can finish the season.

“We focus just on the things that are in our hands, which is preparing the best possible way to beat Burnley, that’s it.”