Coach Arteta: 'Arsenal need to win at Man City'
"I can't wait, it's a game that everyone wants to be in," Arteta said of the match against Man City, after drawing 3-3 at Southampton in the 32nd round yesterday. "When everything is at stake, you have to go there to win. We will prepare the game with that mentality. That's the beauty of the sport, you want to stay where you are. We are. I will prepare well for the wonderful trip to Manchester."
Three consecutive draws against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton left Arsenal breathless in the title race. Currently, they are five points ahead of Man City, but played more than two matches. Arteta's teachers and students can only regain their right to self-determination if they win their trip to Man City on the evening of April 26.
The last time Arsenal won at Etihad Stadium in the Premier League took place in January 2015, with a score of 2-0 thanks to Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud. Last season, Arsenal even lost 0-5 and failed to hit the target once as a guest of Man City.
Acknowledging the importance, but Arteta emphasized that it is not the "final" to decide the throne this season, because Arsenal still play five more rounds. The Spain coach asked the players to put aside doubts and focus their minds towards the goal of winning all three points in Manchester.
Following the bottom team Southampton yesterday, Arsenal started badly, even allowing Carlos Jonas Alcaraz and Theo Walcott to concede in the first 14 minutes. Gabriel Martinelli shortened the lead in the first half, but substitute Duje Caleta-Car restored a two-goal lead for the visitors with a header from close range 66 minutes. Subsequent efforts only helped Arsenal to score twice thanks to attack Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka in the last three minutes, to recoil a point.
Not satisfied with the result, but Arteta is still proud of the home team's performance. He added: "We make it difficult again, but mistakes are part of football. With the way we react, I love the players more than ever. This young group reacts in a way. amazing way."
The 41-year-old coach admitted that the defense made many mistakes and had to improve, but rejected the view that Arsenal lacked confidence because of the pressure of the title. Arteta also regretted when Arsenal missed good opportunities late in the game, including Leandro Trossard's shot across the bar or Reiss Nelson's narrow kick.
Striker Gabriel Jesus was also disappointed because Arsenal drew three matches in a row and emphasized that all points can decide the English Premier League crown. He considers the remaining six rounds as finals, including meeting his old club Man City.
