Arsenal sent Spurs message by Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka has told his Arsenal teammates that they are a team that needs to win something this season and cannot afford to build a reputation for coming up short – like North London rivals Tottenham.

The Gunners have finished as runners-up in the Premier League to Manchester City in successive seasons and Saka has revealed that there is a hunger in the team to ensure they do not finish up as also-rans again this term.

This is a tag that Spurs have earned in recent years, which have seen Ange Postecoglou’s side starved of success, despite regularly being in the mix for titles.

Saka is determined that Arsenal do not suffer this same fate.

This was evident as the Gunners overcame PSG 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, with the England attacker scoring the second goal direct from a free kick during the first half.

“This season there is a lot of hunger in my belly. In previous years we have been runners-up a lot so it is just that spirit in me that I want to win this season, that is where the confidence is coming from. I believe in myself and that is driving me forward,” he told Amazon Prime.

PSG win raises belief – Arteta

Mikel Arteta’s side have made an excellent start to the campaign, with a 2-2 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last weekend further proving their title credentials.

The manager says that both the result and the performance at the Emirates against PSG will only help fuel the team’s title-winning ambitions.

“I think it raises the confidence and the belief that we can compete with any team at this level in games that are very different to the Premier League. We showed a lot of maturity and put our stamp on the way we want to perform in Europe against the top teams so I really liked that,” he added.

Arsenal had drawn their opening Champions League match 0-0 against Atalanta but their victory over PSG takes them onto four points with a clash against Shakhtar Donetsk to follow at the Emirates later this month.