‘I would have picked him’ – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reveals whole family had head in hands after Son’s miss
MIKEL ARTETA had his head in his hands at home after THAT Son Heung-min miss against Manchester City.
And the Spaniard urged old pal David Moyes to produce a final-day shock to hand Arsenal the title.
The Gunners host Everton tomorrow knowing victory alone will not be enough as they are two points off City, who welcome Moyes’ West Ham.
City would have to be denied a win for the Premier League to be lifted at the Emirates — with Arsenal’s goal difference one better.
It could have been so different had Son levelled when Tottenham trailed Pep Guardiola’s men 1-0 on Tuesday night.
But, instead, the Spurs skipper blew his 86th-minute one-on-one chance and City went on to win 2-0 — putting them on the brink of sealing a fourth successive title.
Arsenal boss Arteta was watching the match at his North London home with wife Lorena and their boys Gabriel, Daniel and Oliver.
Asked if he had his head in his hands after Son raced clear and was denied by keeper Stefan Ortega, Arteta said: “I was, to be honest.
“My kids were running around the table and going like this [head in hands]. You can imagine.
“If I had to pick a player in the Premier League for that moment, it probably would be Son. The hope was there and it didn’t happen.
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“Michael Jordan explained it many times — how many times he had the winning shot. It was always him.
“Sometimes, yes, sometimes he did not manage to do it. This is the beauty of sport, the magic as well.
“To have the opportunity to be living it, next to your family and next to your colleagues. Being part of that. What can you do?”
Arteta became a Prem regular during his 5½-year stint at Everton under Moyes before signing for Arsenal on deadline day back in August 2011.
He still holds massive admiration and respect for the Scot — who will leave the Hammers after their final outing this season against City.
Arteta said: “David Moyes has been instrumental in my career. Not just as a footballer but as a person as well.
“If he could help us to fulfil our dream and my personal dream to win the Premier League, that will be unbelievable and he’ll always be in my memory, that’s for sure.
“Hopefully something beautiful is now going to happen. The Premier League trophy hasn’t been at the Emirates yet and it was built almost 20 years ago. That’s a long, long time.
“We have to be very optimistic. For the dream to happen, we have to win. That’s very certain.
“Then, we have to hope for West Ham to achieve that dream.
“With what City have done in the last 13 years and what we’ve done in the last 20 years in the Premier League, we have zero chance, then?
“We can’t start like this. We just have to believe.”
Asked who will keep him informed of the score up in Manchester, Arteta said: “I think 60,000 people.
“Plus the staff, the assistant coaches and all the families behind their phones. I think that’s enough.”
Arteta revealed that he will have a meeting with club officials next week to determine their stance on VAR, ahead of a Prem vote on whether to scrap it next campaign.
He also remained tight-lipped on when he will potentially extend his contract at Arsenal, with his current deal expiring next summer.
The Emirates chief explained: “That’s something that after the season, or whenever the right time is, we will sit down and talk.”
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