Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal can benefit from the experience of a tough week for the club.
Arsenal’s ambitions for the campaign have suffered successive setbacks after losses to Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, with the latter defeat eliminating the Gunners from the Champions League quarter-finals.
The loss to Aston Villa at the Emirates also damaged the club’s hopes of winning the Premier League, as the north Londoners fell two points behind Manchester City in the title race.
Liverpool also remain the title race and sit behind Arsenal on goal difference, as the top three prepare for a tense run-in.
Arsenal can move back to the top of the division with a win at Wolves this weekend, as league leaders Manchester City are in FA Cup semi-final action at Wembley.
Arteta reflected on the events of the last week and said his team can learn from the experience, with full focus on a win at Molineux and moving top of the Premier League table.
“As an experience, the best one,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference on the defeats.
“I am now fully focused on the times ahead of us. We are now behind Manchester City and will give it a good go. The context is clear. If we we win we are top of the league.”
Arteta also provided an update on the fitness of Jurrien Timber, who is nearing a first-team return after suffering an ACL injury on the Premier League’s opening weekend. However, he confirmed the clash with Wolves will come too soon for the Dutch defender.
“Too soon for him [to play against Wolves]. He’s going to continue to play for the Under-23s. He looked good in training. He now needs to make that step and the certainty to go. The rest [of the players] are all good.”
