Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal are competing with two of the best sides in Premier League history in Manchester City and Liverpool, but he has pledged the Gunners will give everything in the run-in as they chase the title.
Arsenal and Liverpool both overtook City in the Premier League table last weekend, recording valuable away wins while Pep Guardiola’s champions were in FA Cup action against Chelsea.
The Gunners currently top the pile after their 2-0 win over Wolves, with Liverpool behind them on goal difference at the start of what could be a decisive few days.
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All three title contenders are in action twice this week, with Arsenal taking on Chelsea and Tottenham in two huge London derbies.
Asked about the importance of getting back to winning ways following successive defeats against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, Arteta said: “It really meant a lot to us.
“We are in a great position in the Premier League.
“We’ve been like this for nine or nine and a half months, where we want really to give it a real go and be really determined to do what is in our hands to try to lift that trophy.
“Tomorrow we’re going to have a very tough opponent in front of us and we will try to overcome that opponent again.”
Five fixtures remain for the top two, while City have six to play 👀 pic.twitter.com/m2hs4x3h2B
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 22, 2024
Asked whether the margins were closer than ever in this three-way title fight, Arteta said: “They are, because you depend on another two teams.
“We’re talking about, as I always said, the best two teams in the last decade of this league, and in my opinion two of the best in the history of this league. This is where we are.”
Chelsea are languishing in ninth place ahead of Tuesday’s game, with a Europa League spot the limit of their ambitions after their hopes of silverware were dashed by Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to City at Wembley Stadium.
The Blues have spent over £1billion on players in less than two years under the Todd Boehly regime but still appear no closer to seeing that outlay bear fruit. Arteta, however, is certain they will come good.
“I’m convinced they will. With that squad? Yes. And with the manager they have? Yes,” he said.
Arsenal v Chelsea: Through the years 🎞 pic.twitter.com/6brxzpHPX1
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 22, 2024
“I can talk about what we have done but what other clubs do is entirely up to them. They will have the vision and will be very clear on how they’re going to get where they want to get.
“I think they deserve to be in a much higher position in the league, when you look at what they’ve done and what they’ve produced in games.
“They’ve reached a final, they’ve reached a semi-final, they could have gone through. I think what Mauricio [Pochettino] is doing is really impressive, so I’m sure that he’s going to get them there.”
