Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have a responsibility to not go easy on their training ground neighbours Watford just because they have a season-defining FA Cup final approaching.

Watford head to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday knowing defeat could condemn them to relegation to the Championship, with Aston Villa surviving at their expense.

Arteta is preparing for his club’s Cup final against Chelsea – which represents their ticket into Europe – but still feels they have to be fair to the other sides.

‘We need to know the responsibility we have towards the other clubs,’ Arteta said.

‘The responsibility we have in any game. Mentally if you are not ready or if your level of implication is not 100 per cent then you have a problem.’

On whether a good performance against Watford could win a place in his Cup final XI, Arteta said: ‘Absolutely. They try to do that in training anyway but I want to see the players who are in the best condition with the best mindset ahead of that final day against Chelsea.’

Arteta is currently unhappy with Arsenal’s position of 10th in the league and he described the task of lifting them towards the top of the table as ‘beautiful’.

‘I don’t think the league table lies at the end of the 10 months and with 38 games,’ Arteta said.

‘How long? Hopefully next season it will be very different. We have a beautiful challenge – a very demanding challenge but a beautiful challenge ahead of us.

‘We have to put this right – bring this club back to where it belongs which is with the top teams in the country and Europe. To do that we have to make a lot of good decisions.’