Mikel Arteta is adamant that the world’s top players will still want to play for Arsenal even if they don’t qualify for Europe next season.
Sunday’s north London derby defeat at Spurs has left the Gunners on the verge of missing out on European football next season for the first time in 25 years.
Arteta’s side now sit four points below seventh-placed Sheffield United with only nine points left up for grabs, and with Liverpool to come on Wednesday night, Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for Europe via the Premier League could be over before the weekend if they lose to the champions and the Blades win at Leicester 24 hours later.