TRIP DOWN MEMORY PAIN

Arteta’s driven by his Etihad despair

- NEIL McLEMAN

MIKEL ARETA has revealed he is driven by the painful memory of last season’s defeat at Manchester City before returning to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow.

But the Arsenal boss insisted his Premier League leaders are “closer” to the defending champions this year.

He claimed the Gunners this time have the “momentum” as Arsenal bid to shift the power base in English football.

Last Easter Sunday saw the Gunners start a run of three consecutive draws at Anfield before losing 4-1 at the Etihad.

Their title challenge effectively ended that day.

“How did it feel after that game last season? Not nice, I guarantee you,” Arteta recalled.

“I don’t want to go through that again because we knew after that it was going to be very difficult, something that we fought for that many months.”

Arsenal will return as leaders on the back of a run of eight consecutive Premier League wins and setting up a Champions League quarter-final showdown with Bayern Munich.