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Arteta plays down Arsenal title talk ahead of crucial West Ham clash

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are finally catching up to fans' high standards

Arsenal Football Newsletter

The Gunners go into the match on a high after beating Atletico Madrid to book their place in the Champions League final.

That trip to Budapest must be pushed to one side for now as the focus turns back to trying to be crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years.

Arsenal travel to the London Stadium to take on West Ham knowing three wins in their final three matches of the season would secure the title.

Arteta's side hold a five-point lead over Manchester City - who have a game in hand - and finish their campaign against Burnley and Crystal Palace.

With Burnley already relegated and Palace expected to have one eye on the Conference League final, and that has led to some believing victory over West Ham would effectively get Arsenal over the line.

Arsenal visit West Ham still riding high after beating Atletico Madrid

Jamie Carragher said this week that "if Arsenal win against West Ham next Sunday, they win the league", but Arteta was unsurprisingly more reserved.

"I don't know where that theory is coming from," Arteta said.

"'If' is not enough. We have to be there, we have to be better than the opponent and win the game. If we do that, we're going to be closer. That's for sure."

There is the chance for Arsenal to make history in the coming weeks.

Ending the long title drought is now the priority but the Gunners will then face Paris Saint-Germain for a chance to win the Champions League for the first time in the club's history.

Thierry Henry was part of the only other side to have reached that stage of the competition, when Arsenal lost to Barcelona in 2006.

The Invincibles never got over the line in Europe and Henry has said if this current Arsenal side can do so, they will go down as 'The Unforgettables'.

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Asked about the prospect of claiming that tag, Arteta said: "It would be great but it's a myth. There's still so much to do."

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