Arteta vows to keep faith with youth

MIKEL ARTETA has backed his young Arsenal squad to carry the club forwards next season — even if the Gunners fail to finish in the top four this term.

A dismal 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on Monday night raised questions over whether some of Arsenal’s squad were able to deal with the pressure of fighting for Champions League qualification. But Arteta insists now is not the moment to lose faith in his players.

‘Next season they are going to be more mature,’ he said. ‘What we cannot say is that we are going to use academy players and do that and the moment something goes a little bit wrong, we’re not going to do anything with them.

‘I’m so grateful for what they have done and what they have brought to the team, and to the club, in this moment. We are going to stick with them and give them what they need because they deserve that.’

Arsenal will now have to rely on north London rivals Spurs slipping up against relegated Norwich today to have any chance of qualifying for Europe’s premier competition. Arsenal host Everton and while Arteta believes the home crowd will keep him and his squad up to date with events at Carrow Road, he insists the pressure is now on Spurs who are currently two points clear in fourth spot.

‘When you are playing away, it is a little bit more difficult,’ Arteta said. ‘When you are playing at home, I am sure our people would let us know very quickly what is happening.

‘We were in that position [fourth] a few days ago and we lost that opportunity. Now it’s down to them to lose it.’