Mikel Arteta has urged his squad to “take ownership” of the Premier League title race and “get the job done” after a period of recharging and reflection following their defeat to Manchester City.
Arsenal lost top spot when City beat Burnley, but with both teams level on points and five matches remaining, the title is still very much in their hands. Arteta described the final stretch as a “new league” that begins with Saturday’s evening clash against Newcastle at the Emirates, live on Sky Sports, and said his players are ready to respond after consecutive defeats by Bournemouth and City.
“It’s important to feel the confidence, the trust and clarity on what we want to deliver on the pitch,” he told Sky Sports. “But now is a moment for all of us to take ownership. We can talk all day, but we need to go on that pitch and we need to get the job done.”
Arteta praised both his experienced leaders and the younger squad members, saying even those with less experience have the personality to perform in the decisive run-in. He was encouraged by the dressing-room reaction after the Etihad defeat, adding that the group used the following week to recharge and refocus.
“Immediately, the reaction in the dressing room I really liked because I could sense that they were even more convinced than before the game that we’re going to do it,” he said. “It was a long week, the sun was shining. We used it to recharge, refresh… We talked about the team that we want to be. The analytical part was very short and at the start of the week. Afterwards, it was focus on us and the things we want to see and build again; that connection and clarity and the five games left. Newcastle is game one – go for it. I think we are privileged to be in the position we are. We value the position, now we need to grab it.”
Despite the defeat, Arsenal were praised for a more attacking approach against City that appeared to unsettle the new leaders. Arteta also warned that selection will be a major headache in the closing weeks, with goal difference potentially decisive and players such as Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori nearing returns from injury.
“That’s one of the biggest headaches for any manager is to nail the line-up of how we start and how we’re going to finish the game,” he said. “The game that we expect at the beginning and then how we can change it if the context is different. We have a very different profile of players which is good. Hopefully this weekend we’re going to have another two or three players back which is a massive boost for us and we’re looking forward to it.”
Forward Gabriel Martinelli revealed Arteta’s message after the City loss, saying the manager told the squad to have full belief and reminded them that their position is down to their own performances this season. “He said we didn’t get to this point and playing good football because of other people, it’s because of us,” Martinelli said. “We know how to get there, we want to win the title and put our names in the history of the club. Everyone believes in themselves inside of this football club so we just have to show it on the pitch and give our best for this badge.”
Centre-back William Saliba said the team is prepared to give everything in the closing stages after what he called an undeserved defeat to City. “We are in the big part of the season now,” he told Men In Blazers. “We learned a lot from that game and we know that everything is possible. We know we have to win every game now if we want to take this Premier League. We need to be calm. We need to die on the pitch as well because it’s now. We have to go. We need everyone, the fans, the team, the staff, everyone. We have to give everything and die on the pitch.”
