Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are going to have to "show their teeth" as they try to make up an unprecedented nine-point gap to leaders Liverpool to win the Premier League title this season.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
11 | +15 | 28 |
| 2 |
Man City
MCI
|
11 | +9 | 23 |
| 3 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
11 | +8 | 19 |
| 4 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
11 | +6 | 19 |
Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday means the Gunners are in fourth place and some distance back in the title race.
Indeed, they will have to make history if they are to become champions this season, as no team have EVER been more than eight points behind after exactly 11 Matchweeks and gone on to win the title.
Arteta says Arsenal have no option but to "win, win and win" because Liverpool are showing no signs of slowing down.
"Win, win and win because these guys, they don’t stop winning, so that’s what we have to do," Arteta said.
"When it gets nasty, show your teeth and show how much you want it. When it’s Disneyland, it’s easy, everyone is next to you and telling you how beautiful you are and when it gets dark and difficult, everyone is questioning it. That’s when I want to see people, that’s when I’m always looking around.
"There is nothing we can change today about that [the league table]. What I am just praying is that after the international break I have the team fully equipped physically, they are available and they are fit because it has been an absolute nightmare for eight weeks. Issue after issue, not only the ones that are not able to play, but the ones that are able to play only for certain moments, only for certain days, not able to train. So I’m just asking that because the team, the desire that they have and how much we want it, there’s no question about that. So, it’s going to come, we just need that on our side to be able to be more consistent."
'Chelsea have battered everyone'
Despite dropping more points in the title race this weekend, Arteta says he is proud of his team's performance against a Chelsea side who have "battered every opponent" at Stamford Bridge this season, according to the Arsenal manager.
"I'm disappointed with the result because I think we deserved more and at the same time I'm very proud of the team, the way we played here against this opponent, in this stadium, they have battered every opponent here and obviously it wasn’t the case today," Arteta said.
"But after doing the most difficult thing, scoring the first goal, very disappointed with how we conceded the goal, nowhere near the standards, our defensive habits, how we allowed that and the moment you allow that space and time to any of their players with the quality they have you’re going to get punished, so that’s not bad luck.
"But in the end, the team showed its teeth, how much they wanted it, they took risks, full determination, put Chelsea under every problem. We were very aggressive, we created three big chances and unfortunately we weren’t able to put the ball in the net to win and I think the team deserves it."
'Odegaard is unbelievable'
Despite Arsenal's injury problems in recent weeks, they were boosted on Sunday by the return to the starting line-up of captain Martin Odegaard, who lasted the whole match and drew praise from Arteta.
"I don’t know any other player in the league that is capable of doing that after six weeks out," Arteta said. "He had a day-and-a-half, a training-and-a-half. Just physically and mentally to be connected the way he was with the team is unbelievable."
But Arteta faces an anxious wait on the fitness of two other star players in Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, both of whom were forced off at Chelsea.
"It doesn’t look good because two players of that importance tell you that they cannot continue in the game, so it obviously isn’t good news," Arteta added.