Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal have not blown their chance to win a first Premier League title in 22 years and said he should “stay at home” if his players cannot bounce back from their damaging defeat by Manchester City.
The Gunners, now just three points clear of their rivals, face being usurped from the summit for the first time since September following Erling Haaland’s winner in Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad Stadium.
If Pep Guardiola’s men see off Burnley by two clear goals at Turf Moor on Wednesday, City will take control of the title race on goal difference with just five matches to play.
How will the rest of the title race play out? 🤔📊 pic.twitter.com/YjbprpojPw
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Arsenal entered last month with aspirations of winning the quadruple, but they are seeing their bid for silverware disintegrate before their eyes.
However, for now at least, Arteta’s side, who have lost their last four domestic matches, remain at the top of the table, and in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
And when asked if he will be presented with a challenge to pick his players up ahead of their next match at home to Newcastle on Saturday, Arteta snapped back: “No. I mean if I have to pick the players up to win the Premier League with five games to go, in our hands, and be in the final of the Champions League, I should be at home.
“It’s not the case. It’s not needed. It’s never been needed, even in difficult moments, and so we will go again.
“Obviously, they were very disappointed not to get a result from the game in the manner that it happened.
“But I believe today, I believed on Wednesday, and I believed a week ago because I see the players every day and I know the level that we have.
“If they needed to be more convinced, they are now more convinced. And they were talking about it in the dressing room. It’s a new league now. We have an advantage of three points, and five games to play, so everything is still to play for. We know how much we want it, and we’re not going to stop.”
Rayan Cherki opened the scoring at the Etihad Stadium with a fine individual goal before Kai Havertz restored parity when he charged down Gianluigi Donnarumma’s clearance just two minutes later.
Eberechi Eze struck the inside of a City post in the second half with Haaland then firing City ahead. Arsenal hit a post for a second time through Gabriel’s deflected header, while Havertz wasted a golden opportunity in stoppage time.
And Arteta continued: “I am very upset with the result. We came here to win the game. The reality is that the difference today was in the two boxes.”
Guardiola said prior to Sunday’s fixture that his bid for a sixth league title would be over if Arsenal won.
Reflecting on his side’s triumph, he said: “I don’t think ‘enjoy’ is the right word. It’s fine. It gives us hope. I said to the guys, ‘enjoy the moment but don’t lose focus’.
“People say we have momentum, but when you see them (Arsenal) compete they are an extraordinary team, otherwise you cannot be top of the Premier League all season and unbeaten in the Champions League.
“The reality is clear. Who is top of the league? We are not. And goal difference? They are better, too. But of course, we have hope we can extend the chance to fight until the end.”
