Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are not giving up in the Premier League title race and says ‘everything is still to play for’ ahead of this weekend’s clash with Brighton.
Arsenal are second in the Premier League table and remain within a point of leaders Manchester City after a 2-0 win at Newcastle last weekend. The Gunners have played a game more than their title rivals, but Arteta remains optimistic about his team’s chances of overhauling the leaders.
Arsenal host Brighton at the Emirates on Sunday and need to improve on a poor recent record against the Seagulls. The north Londoners have lost their last two home meetings with Brighton and Arteta admits this weekend is a ‘crucial’ fixture for his side.
“This is the crucial one. We want to beat them and elevate our hopes because everything is still to play for,” he told his pre-match press conference.
The Gunners impressed to win at Newcastle last time out, exorcising the demons of a costly defeat at St James’ Park last season. Arteta was delighted with the performance of his side and admitted the win was a ‘special’ performance.
“The feeling of the last game was a special one. Newcastle are a top side and are building something really good, especially at home, and we managed to go and win.
“It was a special feeling, especially after what happened last year [when a defeat at Newcastle cost Arsenal a place in the Champions League], the meaning was more than with any other game.”
Arsenal have reignited their title hopes after a four-game winless run, securing back-to-back wins against Chelsea and Newcastle, and Arteta said ‘cutting out mistakes’ has been behind the club’s return to form.
“We had to find a way to help them [the players] more,” Arteta said.
“We found that cutting out mistakes was a huge one and trying to anticipate why those mistakes were happening. We did that and the results have come back again.”
