Arsenal news: Bukayo Saka's dressing room remarks as Eberechi Eze admits 'it's not easy'

Mirror Football brings you the latest news from the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal are at a crossroads in their season, a point that will ultimately decide whether it’s a success or a failure. Mikel Arteta's side are coming off the back of two disappointing draws in the Premier League that have thrown the title race wide open.

They drew 1-1 at Brentford despite scoring first and blew a 2-0 lead earlier this week against Wolves, drawing 2-2 against the relegation-bound side. The Gunners now hold only a slender lead in the Premier League title race with Manchester City hot on their heels.

Nevertheless, Arsenal have the perfect opportunity to bounce back with a crucial win against bitter rivals Tottenham in Sunday afternoon’s north London derby, which could give them a much-needed boost. Now, Mirror Football takes a look at two of the latest stories involving the Gunners.

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Saka's dressing room remarks

Declan Rice has revealed that Bukayo Saka taught him the importance of the north London derby when he joined Arsenal almost three years ago. Given that their title charge hangs in the balance, the Gunners will be feeling extra pressure when they visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

READ MORE : Arsenal chief quits just SEVEN months after getting crucial jobREAD MORE : Declan Rice gives telling message to Arsenal squad in 'firm' post-Wolves debrief

But the players will be well aware of what a derby victory means, even without the context of a title race. That’s thanks to players like vice-captain Saka, who have come through the academy resenting their rivals from N17 and have let their newer team-mates know that defeat is simply unacceptable when the two sides meet.

Rice, who played in similarly ferocious derbies against Spurs for West Ham in the past, told The Sun: "I remember Saka saying: ‘You can’t lose derbies here to Spurs’. For the fanbase, everyone, the players, the staff, that’s the game you can’t lose."

He also said: "The north London derby is always special. I've been able to play in a few of them now and understand the rivalry, understand who you're playing against and what it means.

"Sunday isn't just going to be about football, it's going to be about how much you want it as well. You're going away to Spurs, they have a new manager, they've had loads of injuries but it's going to be a game both of us are going to want to win. But that day, it's all in your mind, ‘How much do you really want it?’. You've got to fight for it and trust me, I want it.”

Eze's 'not easy' admission

Eberechi Eze has opened up on the physical and mental pressures of playing for a huge club like Arsenal. The England international made a dream move to his boyhood club in the summer from Crystal Palace.

So far this season, Eze has struggled to capture the same form that earned him his return to north London, though he will be buoyed by the fact that he scored a hat-trick against Spurs in the derby earlier this season.

The playmaker spoke about his mentality when talking to the official Arsenal website, saying: "Nervous? I'd say I get nervous, yes. But nervous in the sense that I probably see nerves in a different way. I see nerves as my body preparing me for the moment that's coming.

"That's a natural thing that happens because you want to do well, you want to perform, you want to help the team, you want to win. I think that's just part of elite sports and I love that feeling. I love going onto the pitch and thinking ‘OK, this is the moment.’ This is what football is about. That's what makes it special."

He went on to speak about the physical strain of playing intense matches every few days, adding: "Yes, 100 per cent. It's not easy at all. You talk about the physical side, but the mental side is probably the more difficult part. Staying on it, staying prepared, staying locked in for a full season, when every game matters. It's not easy, but if you want to win, if you want to achieve stuff, this is the sacrifice and this is the cost. It’s what we've all bought into."

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