Mikel Arteta insists no one in football is more driven than he is to end Arsenal’s long wait for a Premier League title, as his side sit in a commanding position at the top of the table.

Arsenal have not lifted the league trophy since the era of the Invincibles, yet under Arteta they have rebuilt into consistent contenders, finishing runners-up in each of the past three seasons. Now, with a seven-point cushion and 48 points still available, the manager believes the opportunity is there, but only if his squad maintain absolute focus.

Arteta’s message is clear and relentless. He stresses that his own motivation, hunger and desire to “go all the way and win it” are unmatched, but warns that emotion alone will not be enough. For him, the key lies in daily improvement, in what he calls being “present in the moment” and doing everything “better tomorrow” than it was done today.

He is determined to shut out the noise surrounding the title race. With Manchester City’s pursuit stuttering and Liverpool well off the pace, many observers now frame the championship as Arsenal’s to lose. Arteta refuses to be drawn into that narrative, arguing that anything beyond the next training session or match preparation “doesn’t add any value” and risks dragging minds away from the task at hand.

That same blend of intensity and patience shapes his handling of individuals, notably Viktor Gyökeres. The Swedish striker arrived with a prolific record from Sporting Lisbon, where he scored 97 goals in 102 games, but has found the Premier League a harsher landscape, managing only five league goals so far.

Gyökeres did offer a reminder of his potential with a late strike in the 3-1 Champions League win over Inter Milan, coming off the bench after Gabriel Jesus had already scored twice. Even so, Arteta is resisting snap judgments. He talks about assessing the forward “at the end of the season” and even then viewing his contribution through multiple lenses, not just goals.

Arteta points to the evolving demands on centre forwards across the league, where pressing, link-up play and tactical discipline are increasingly prized. In that context, he argues, any fair evaluation must consider the broader role a modern number nine is asked to perform.

For now, everything at Arsenal is framed by a single, towering ambition: turning years of near misses into a long-awaited Premier League triumph.