Mikel Arteta, forcing his coolness, is feeling the burden of Arsenal’s now-failed quadruple bid

For moments like Saturday’s surprise FA Cup defeat to Southampton , Mikel Arteta now has a set process. The Basque has even been witnessed privately forcing a changed facial expression before speaking to media or his players, to radiate a desired mood. Arsenal’s many critics would quip he’s had to get used to such moments.

It is precisely because of such noise around the club, however, that Arteta seeks to immediately shape the responses. He knows criticism will already be scathing and any mockery will be, well, quadrupled, so there’s little need to make his players further dwell on that. “Feel that pain, feel that emotion, and use it to be better and to improve,” Arteta said .

Mikel Arteta has been witnessed privately forcing a changed facial expression before speaking to media or his players to radiate a desired mood (Arsenal FC via Getty) The intention is instead to shut out any doubt, and remind them how much there is to aim for. “We worked so hard to be in this position,” Arteta reminded his players. Four trophies may have quickly become two, but there’s still only one that matters.

Arteta and the entire club are fully aware that this entire season ultimately comes down to the Premier League title. Win it and nothing else will matter. Fail and it will feel like everything comes crashing in worse than ever… with the possible exception of Europe.