Mikel Arteta has ‘even more belief’ in Arsenal title win despite damaging home loss to Man City

Mikel Arteta has even ‘more belief’ that Arsenal can win the Premier League title despite his side suffering a 3-1 home defeat to Manchester City that saw Pep Guardiola’s men usurp the Gunners at the top of the table.

Arsenal have led the way since the third week of the season but were knocked off the summit as City secured a 3-1 victory in an enthralling encounter at The Emirates.

Kevin De Bruyne had put City in front before Bukayo Saka levelled for Arsenal from the penalty spot. But the visitors would strike twice after the break as Jack Grealish and Haaland, an injury doubt ahead of the game, secured a vital three points.

Arsenal have now lost three of their last four in all competitions as their title tilt has taken a wobble, although they only sit second by virtue of a worse goal difference and do have a game in hand on Pep Guardiola’s men.

Speaking after the game, Arteta told Amazon Prime: “Huge battle – a battle that, especially until we conceded second goal, we had them – we had the feeling we could beat them but we gave them three goals and the game at the end. With certain errors at this level you can’t make. The team put the level very high at the same time.

“They were playing long balls and we suffered to get out of those zones and didn’t read the situation well enough, they punished us.”

On title race, with City now ahead on goal difference, although Arsenal do have a game in hand, he added: “I have more belief than I had before the game, with the performance and the level the team put in against City. They wanted to play a different game than the one we played and with the crowd we have we can do it.

“They still have it [the belief], I can sense it. They feel they can do it.

“The difference was in the boxes, they had three chances and they put them away. We had chances and we didn’t put them away.”

Odegaard rues fine margins in Arsenal defeat

Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard added that it was a game of fine margins, adding: “The game is decided in the boxes and we were not sharp enough, in front of the goal and in our own as well. They were better. Apart from that, we played a good game, did many good things and had many good periods, but we have to be better in the boxes.

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

“It is football. Sometimes chances go in, sometimes not. But that is where we need to improve and be more clinical and defend our box. That is not just about one player, but the whole team.

“As we have said all season, work hard and take it game by game. It is the same now. It is one game we have lost here today and now we look to the next one. A new game on Saturday and we must come back and win.

“It was an unbelievable atmosphere and we are so grateful to everyone who came here today and made the game special. We will work hard to give them something to make them happy about.”

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