Trending 
Manager Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to break their New Year jinx as the Gunners battle for their first Premier League title in more than two decades.
Arsenal are four points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the halfway point of the season and remain favourites to claim a 14th English league crown.
However, on the previous five occasions over the past 23 years when they ended the calendar year at the top of the table, they have failed to win the title. The most recent occasion was three seasons ago when Arteta’s men finished the campaign five points behind Pep Guardiola’s City.
The Arsenal boss, speaking Friday, on the eve of the Gunners’ trip to Bournemouth, said he was not aware of the dispiriting statistic but added: “Let’s break it.”
Arteta said his players were desperate to be crowned English champions for the first time since 2004 after finishing as runners-up three times in a row.
“That’s what they transmit every single day when they’re with us, training or in every match,” he said.
Arteta said his players were in a buoyant mood after thumping third-placed Villa 4-1 at the Emirates on Tuesday, with City held to a goalless draw by Sunderland two days later.
The Spaniard said he was happy with his team’s position at the halfway point of the campaign, but insisted, “It can always be better.
“There are things to improve obviously and the only thing we know is that it’s always the next game and we know how tough it is for every opponent to beat them.”
Arsenal have battled a lengthy injury list this season, with defender Gabriel Magalhaes and forward Gabriel Jesus having just returned to the team, although they could again be without Declan Rice for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth.
