Mikel Arteta isn’t one to panic. Not when he’s trailing Liverpool by 12 points in the Premier League title race. Not even with Real Madrid—yes, that Real Madrid—waiting in the wings for a Champions League quarterfinal. While fans are already dreaming (or dreading) about what Vinícius Jr. might do to their backline, Arteta is staring down the barrel of a far less glamorous opponent: Everton.
Arteta knows it’s Goodison first, Galácticos later
In a world full of overthinking managers, Arteta keeps it deliciously simple. He told Arsenal Media, “The best way to prepare for Real Madrid is to win and play really well tomorrow.” Translation: forget the Bernabéu, we’ve got a war to win at Goodison Park.
Everton may not have the flash of Madrid, but they’ve got just enough chaos to ruin your week. Arteta’s side knows it—because they’ve lived it. Every club that visits Goodison feels like they’ve walked into an episode of Black Mirror—nothing goes as planned, and reality bends in strange, Toffee-coloured ways.
Arteta and the fine art of tunnel vision
There’s something beautifully stubborn about how Arteta refuses to let his squad peek ahead. With every tabloid foaming over Arsenal’s “inevitable downfall,” the Spaniard is serving full Jedi mind-tricks: “This is not the Real Madrid game you’re looking for.”
His focus? Beat Everton. Then rinse and repeat. It’s a philosophy built not on flair but fundamentals—one match, one moment, no distractions. Even if Luka Modrić is already lurking in someone’s nightmares.
Why His approach might just work
Let’s be real—football doesn’t hand out trophies for looking ahead. Arteta gets that. That’s why his Gunners are embracing the grind instead of gawking at Galácticos. Keep winning. Stay calm. Let the pundits predict disaster while you collect points.
If this gamble works, don’t be surprised when Arteta pulls off a double that only the most deluded fans dared to believe.
After all, it starts with Everton—and one very focused manager.
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