Mikel Arteta remains upbeat as Southampton draw hands Man City advantage but admits concerns over one aspect of Arsenal display

Mikel Arteta had nothing but praise for his Arsenal players after their draw with Southampton but admits elements of doubt may be creeping into their game.

The Gunners were looking to get back to winning ways after drawing with Liverpool and West Ham United. But they needed two late goals to take a point from the Premier League’s basement club. Saints stunned the Emirates crowd by taking a 2-0 lead within 14 minutes.

They were ahead in just 28 seconds as Carlos Alcaraz took advantage of an Aaron Ramsdale error.

And Theo Walcott then scored against his old club before Gabriel Martinelli pulled one back for the hosts.

It remained 2-1 to the south-coast club at the interval. Arsenal needed a fast start after the break but Duje Caleta-Car restored Southampton’s two-goal cushion on 66 minutes.

It seemed as though the visitors would claim all three points but Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka scored in the 88th and 90th minutes.

The result leaves the north Londoners five points clear of second-placed Manchester City.

But Pep Guardiola’s side have two games in hand on their title rivals. And with the top two clashing at Etihad Stadium next Wednesday, it is the champions who now hold all the aces.

However, Arteta refused to be too downbeat and preferred to focus on the way his charges reacted to adversity.

“Obviously unhappy with the result. We made it very difficult again for ourselves but mistakes are part of football but the way we reacted I love my players more than ever,” he told Sky Sports.

“It is incredible, we were on the way back, we conceded again with a sloppy goal but in the end we should have won the game.

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“We created enough chances and opportunities but it didn’t happen and we are disappointed.”

Arteta praises Arsenal spirit

Many pundits have tipped City to overhaul their capital rivals and claim a third straight Premier League crown.

But the Gunners seemed destined for glory when putting daylight between themselves and the north-west giants.

However, despite acknowledging an obvious weakness, Arteta is clearly backing his men.

“You can’t concede three goals in this league, if you concede three like we did in a sloppy way it is very difficult to win matches,” he added.

“This young team reacts in a way that is incredible, when it is against the odds but the chances they created and the spirit they had it was a joy to watch. The message is clear that I love them.

“We are down and they are more willing than anybody to win it. You can see that spirit and fight in the dressing room but it is clear we have to do defensively things better.”

Arteta admits Arsenal concerns

It seems as though the Etihad clash may well go a long way in deciding the destination of the Premier League title.

But, not according to Arteta. However, the Spaniard did confess that he needs to ensure his stars maintain their belief.

“It is not a final because there are still six games to go,” he continued. “The concern is turning around these moments especially if the players in some moments are in doubt.

“In football you go through moments when you make errors and are not in a good moment but you have to come away from that.

“I have not seen anybody hiding, the opposite, they are willing to do more and more.”

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