Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal players to "look after themselves" and return from the international break fit and hungry to continue their Premier League title bid.
A 4-1 victory over managerless Crystal Palace at home on Sunday sent the Gunners eight points clear in the title race.
One of Arteta's players sure to feature for his country is winger Bukayo Saka, who has been called up for England's upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.
Saka once again starred as he scored twice and set up the opener for Gabriel Martinelli, becoming the first Premier League player this season to reach double figures for both goals and assists.
“I want to think positively. Touch wood, but I want to think positive,” Arteta said. “They’re going to have to play games, they have to do it in the way that they do it here or possibly even better with their country.
“We are in contact with all of them, they know how to look after them and hopefully it will all work out.
“[My message is] that they really look after themselves in this period. We will look after the players that are with us here.
“That they come back with the same mindset and hunger from before to go into Leeds which is the only important game right now. We know it.”
Saka himself admitted the team will continue to give everything they can as they got back to winning ways despite crashing out of the Europa League after a shoot-out loss to Sporting Lisbon three days earlier.
“Of course we are humans and we get tired,” he said. “It is difficult sometimes but the prize at the end is worth giving everything, giving all our energy for.
“Today sometimes you can feel and see the tiredness in our bodies after playing 120 minutes and then you have to come again three days later to play here.
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Bukayo Saka (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring Arsenal's fourth goal in the 4-1 Premier League win against Crystal Palace at Emirates stadium on March 19, 2023. AP -
Bukayo Saka scores Arsenal's fourth goal. Reuters -
Granit Xhaka celebrates scoring Arsenal's third goal. Reuters -
Granit Xhaka celebrates scoring their third goal with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Reuters -
Jeffrey Schlupp pulls a goal back for Palace. PA -
Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring Arsenal's second goal. AFP -
Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring the second goal. EPA -
Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring Arsenal's second goal. Action Images -
Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring. AP -
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gives instructions from the touchline. AP -
Gabriel Martinelli (c) celebrates after scoring Arsenal's opening goal. AP -
Gabriel Martinelli scores the first. AP -
Martinelli celebrates scoring with teammates. Action Images
“But we have the belief and the desire that we want to do this this year and nothing can stop us. Especially not us being tired.”
Palace remain in a relegation fight as Paddy McCarthy took charge of the Eagles for the first time following Patrick Vieira’s sacking on Friday morning.
They are without a league win in 2023 and Jeffrey Schlupp’s goal ended a run of nearly seven hours without a goal.
“It was hectic,” admitted McCarthy.
“You get called into action and you have two days. The boys gave it their all and I can’t fault their effort. They’re a great group of lads, they are great people and I definitely believe they have more than enough to get themselves out of this situation.”
Ratings
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ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 6: Beaten by Zaha’s shot in the first half and was lucky to see the ball come off the post, onto his back and just wide. Picked out Saka with a brilliant pass in 88th minute. AFP -
Ben White 9: Created Arsenal’s second goal with a well-disguised pass to Saka. One of Arsenal’s best players. PA -
Rob Holding 8: Won almost every aerial ball he challenged for in first half. Dealt well with threat of Zaha. AP -
Gabriel 8: Another game, another commanding performance from Gabriel in the centre of Arsenal's defence. He hardly put a foot wrong and kept Edouard quiet. Getty -
Oleksandr Zinchenko 7: His aggressiveness put Olise off his game in the first half. Almost played as a fourth midfielder for Gunners. AP -
Thomas Partey 7: Played a well-disguised pass to put Saka through on goal in the 13th minute. Offered good protection for Arsenal’s backline. AP -
Granit Xhaka 8: Was having quiet game until he popped up to put Arsenal three up with a little chip in the 55th minute. Worked hard to help the Gunners win the midfield battle. Getty -
Martin Odegaard 7: Went close with a left-footed shot in 18th minute. Should have got his name on the scoresheet with a shot that went agonisingly wide just before break. AP -
Bukayo Saka 9: Good cross to find Martinelli for first goal. Showed awareness to stay onside and beat the keeper to put Arsenal two goals up before the break. Scored his second of the day with a first-time shot into the bottom corner. AFP -
Gabriel Martinelli 8: Opened scoring with beautiful left-footed shot into the right-hand corner. Combined well with Gabriel Jesus in the second half. EPA -
Leandro Trossard 7: Often frustrated in the first half but started the second well by putting Saka through on goal to score Arsenal’s third goal. AP -
SUBS: Kieran Tierney (On for Zinchenko 65') 8: Assisted Saka’s second goal of the game with a simple cross to the edge of the penalty area. Used his pace to skip past Olise and deny him opportunity to run through on goal in 80th minute. Reuters -
Gabriel Jesus (On for Trossard 65') 7: Looked very lively after coming and had two half chances to score his first goal since returning from injury. AP -
Jorginho (On for White 83') N/A. Reuters Emile Smith Rowe (On for Martinelli 83') N.A -
Jakub Kiwior (On for Gabriel 86') N/A. Getty -
CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Joe Whitworth 6: Made good save to deny Odegaard from the edge of the box in first half. Excellent decision to punch come off his line and punch away Saka cross and deny Xhaka a tap-in just after the restart. Getty -
Joel Ward 4: Struggled badly against Martinelli in the first half, giving him time and space to open the scoring. AP -
James Tomkins 5: Allowed Xhaka too much time to lay the ball off to Trossard, run past him and chip Whitworth for Arsenal’s third. Smartly shielded Jesus off the ball in the 78th minute. Getty -
Marc Guehi 6: Made brave last-ditch sliding tackle to stop Saka from running through in goal in the 15th minute. Got caught ball watching as Trossard played the ball through to Saka for Arsenal’s third. AFP -
Tyrick Mitchell 5: Failed to close down White quickly and allowed him enough space on ball to play a goal-creating pass to Saka. Arsenal's quick attackers left him bamboozled a number of times. PA -
Luka Milivojevic 4: Struggled alongside Doucoure at the base of midfield as Arsenal dominated centre of park. AFP -
Cheick Doucoure 4: Provided very little security for backline all through the game. AP -
Michael Olise 4: Looked very lethargic in the first half. Should have gambled by making a run and tapping home Zaha’s cross-cum shot ball in 70th minute. AFP -
Jeffrey Schlupp 8: Great pass to find Zaha for Palace's only real threat in the first half. Showed great Stamina to fight off Holding and score for Palace. AP -
Wilfried Zaha 6: Almost gave Palace the lead with a shot that came off the crossbar in first half. Beaten far too easily by Saka in the build-up to Arsenal’s second goal. Tested Ramsdale with a shot from a tight angle after the restart. Reuters -
Odsonne Edouard 5: The offside flag spared his blushes after he failed to beat Ramsdale when he was played through in goal. Kept quiet by Gabriel in Arsenal’s defence. Reuters -
SUBS: Will Hughes (On for Milivojevic 65') 5: Worked hard but failed to offer much going forward. Reuters -
Jordan Ayew (On for Edouard 65') 5: A willing runner but hardly had a sniff after coming on. Getty -
Eberechi Eze (On for Olise 82') N/A. Getty Naouirou Ahamada (On for Schlupp 82') N/A.
