A defiant Mikel Arteta has declared himself “on fire” and holding “zero fear” as he launched a passionate defence of his Arsenal side, whose season teeters on the brink of a devastating collapse.

The Gunners’ campaign faces a critical juncture after a third consecutive domestic defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday opened the Premier League title door for Manchester City, whom they are set to face in a pivotal match this weekend.

Before their crucial encounter with their title rivals, Arsenal will host Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Emirates, guarding a slender one-goal lead from last week’s fixture.

The club has finished league runners-up for the past three seasons and has not secured a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup – the sole silverware of Arteta’s six-and-a-half-year tenure. This history has fostered a growing sense of deja vu among a nervous Arsenal fanbase.

However, in a bid to calm supporters, Arteta insisted: “There is no fear. Pure fire. That’s it. Me, the first one. Pure fire. That’s what I want to see on the players, on the people, on myself. Fire! I’m on fire. I’m on fire. That’s it. Nothing else.

“I’m dreaming so much. I’ve done so much to be in this position because I know how this club was. I’ve done so much and this is beauty.”

He continued: “We are in April, we have an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let’s confront it, let’s go for it by really putting absolutely everything into it. I want to get it done for all these people that have been in this journey with us. And because they deserve it, because it’s been unbelievable. That’s what is driving me every single day.

“I have zero fear. Fear I had when, ‘oh, if we don’t get this done, this club, I don’t know what is going to happen.’ That was fear. Now, there’s no fear. It’s just purpose, fire, direction and conviction that we’re going to do it.”

Asked if his players shared this intensity, Arteta affirmed: “Yes, big time.”

Arsenal entered last month with ambitions of an unprecedented quadruple, but their Carabao Cup final loss against City was followed by a shock FA Cup exit to Southampton. Saturday’s defeat against Bournemouth now allows City the chance to reduce the gap at the top to three points – with a game in hand – should they beat the Gunners on Sunday.

The club has endured a 22-year wait for a top-flight trophy, and has never won the Champions League or reached its semi-finals for two consecutive seasons. Arteta, whose side lost to Paris St Germain in last term’s semis, acknowledged the scale of the challenge.

“What we are trying to achieve is difficult, is challenging, and is bumpy and it’s supposed to be like this,” he said.

“I said to the players, ‘guys, we are trying to do something that hasn’t been done in the history of the club in 140 years. So that tells you the difficulty of what you are doing’. For other clubs, that’s the daily meal. For us, no. So we value a lot where we are.

“We have the opportunity tomorrow to go to the semi-finals. We are competing to win the Premier League and we are in a really strong position. So the team is doing something incredible because it’s never been done before.”

Injury concerns also loom, with Declan Rice facing a late fitness test after missing training on Tuesday, while Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber – also absent from the open session – are both considered doubts.