Mikel Arteta has claimed that he has ‘more belief’ in Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League title despite being usurped by Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table after a 3-1 defeat to the reigning champions at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners headed into the half-time break level after a Bukayo Saka penalty cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne’s strike after the Belgian latched onto a poor backpass from Takehiro Tomiyasu, but could not find any of the same calmness and composure in the second half, ultimately being undone by two errors which were duly punished by Manchester City, to move them above the Gunners on goal difference.
Though Mikel Arteta’s side have a game in hand on their title rivals, it felt like a seismic moment, and the Arsenal boss was quick to point out that it was their mistakes, rather than City’s brilliance, that cost them the opportunity to stay top.
“We are all feeling down, especially because they [the players] knew we could do much better to get a very different result. We just gave them the game”, he explained.
Asked on whether he still believed his side could win the title, however, he remained bullish, pointing to their ability to match Manchester City in the first half as a massive yardstick to measure their improvement with.
“I have more belief because I see a team that is going head to head with them [Man City]. I have more belief in my players”, he told Amazon.
Mikel Arteta has more belief in his players, despite their loss to Man City 💪
The Arsenal boss reacts to the Gunners losing their top spot on the Premier League table 🗣#PLonPrime #ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/vhadDEJ7jt
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 15, 2023
Arsenal face another tricky test at the weekend as they face former boss Unai Emery at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime, with three points vital to turn around a run of form that has seen them take just one point from a possible nine in the last 10 days.
