Mikel Arteta wants to see his Arsenal team fight more against Everton on Wednesday night (Picture: Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta told his Arsenal team they needed to run more and fight harder after a shock defeat to Everton last month, as they look for revenge on the Toffees on Wednesday night.
Sean Dyche sprung a surprise in his first game as Everton manager as the Premier League strugglers downed the league leaders 1-0 at Goodison Park through a James Tarkowski goal.
It was a blow to Arsenal’s title challenge, as were a draw with Brentford and defeat to Manchester City that followed, but they have regrouped and wins over Aston Villa and Leicester keep them two points clear at the top with a game in hand on their nearest rivals.
That game in hand is against Everton on Wednesday night at the Emirates, with Arteta desperate not to slip up against the Toffees again.
Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu reveals what the manager told the squad after that shock loss on Merseyside, and how they should address it when they meet Dyche’s men again this week.
‘We learnt a lot of things, the biggest one was we ran less than them,’ said the Japanese full-back. ‘After the game, Mikel told us we had to run extra hard so first of all, we have to run more than them. Then we have to compete, and we have to focus on the basics.
‘That game they changed the manager and it was his first game for them, so now we know what they want to do. They like to fight, they like to run and they want to put the ball in the box a lot, so we have to defend our box.
‘We have to prepare right and be ready for the fight, because we have to take three points.’
On preparation to take on Dyche, Arteta told a press conference this week: ‘Obviously with Sean it’s quite clear what he’s done and where the success that they’ve had is coming from and tomorrow they will prepare the game in a similar game, I expect.
‘With every manager it’s the same, we have to look at certain matches, what they do to get the right tactics to beat them but as well the same mentality and expectation of what we demand in the game.’
MORE : Takehiro Tomiyasu reveals what Arsenal teammates told him after his blunder
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Everton are aiming to do the double on the Gunners.