Mikel Arteta says Arsenal need “many more” weeks where they capitalise on the slip-ups of their rivals if they are going to be crowned Premier League champions in May.
After a torrid week in the domestic cup competitions, the Gunners got back on track with a morale-boosting 2-1 win in the North London derby, a result that was all the sweeter given Chelsea, Manchester City and, most notably, Liverpool had dropped points the night before.
Arsenal currently sit second in the table four points adrift of the Reds, who also have a game in hand – a not insignificant gap as the final third of the campaign comes into view.
Facing the media ahead of Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa, Arteta said: “It’s always important when you’re able to win and capitalise on other teams dropping points. It’s always a great week.
“First of all because you win and secondly because obviously for the rest it’s not been what they wanted.
“We need many more of those at the moment because of where we are and we need to stay very, very, very focused to understand that if we do what we have to do there will be a chance in some moment.”
While Arteta’s side is two points ahead of Nottingham Forest and five ahead of Newcastle, he doesn’t believe the title race is a two-horse race.
“I think when you look at every game in the Premier League and the margins and how teams are winning football matches it can go either way so in two or three weeks you can be talking about something very different. We’re still in January and it’s going to be a long long run.”
Given the recent gruelling schedule, a visit from Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, the side who did more than any other to kill off Arsenal’s title challenge last season, represents a massive challenge.
“We’re going to try to be as good as we possibly can tomorrow night,” said Arteta.
“That’s the objective. They are a really good side. That’s why they beat us last season. They proved as well when we played them at Villa Park that they are a really difficult opponent. We’re preparing the best way to win.”
Wednesday’s victory over Sp*rs, which involved coming from behind, has certainly galvanised the fanbase just as nerves were starting to fray. Arteta was pleased with the nature of the win which played out against the backdrop of a raucous home crowd.
“When we play every three days, obviously that’s the type of performance that we want. The performance has been there. After, it’s about the results.
“A few things didn’t go our way in the first few minutes of the match, especially because the dominance that we showed [ended with us] going one-nil down [which] was tough. But mentally, I think the team showed incredible resilience, patience, composure to overcome the situation and win the game.
“I think if you want to be fighting for the top trophies with the top teams for 11 months, like we’ve been doing the last two and a half years now, you have to enjoy that kind of moment, that kind of circumstances, those challenges, the pressure that comes with it, because it’s the beauty of it. We are playing to win and that’s exactly what we want to be.”
And on the atmosphere, he added: “Brilliant, I loved it. I said it the day before [the game], that’s in our hands.
“We can look and feel sorry that things have happened, this injury or this, or the referee blah blah blah, but what is in our hands let’s make sure that we do it.
“I saw a different bite to our crowd, a different body language, we were on top of every ball, we created atmosphere with and without the ball and we had real purpose. When we were screaming and we were going into every ball in a very different way and I must say that I loved.”
As for team news for tomorrow, information was thin on the ground. Arteta said: “I have a few decisions to make this afternoon with the medical staff to understand whether they [the players] are in the best condition to this game or the next one, so we’ll decide that.”
Would be nice to humiliate emi Martinez a little bit further- best keeper in the world my arse, he plays for Aston villa.
No matter what else happens in his career, we’ll always have that own goal Jorginho spanked off the bar and in via Emi’s head. One of my favorite Arsenal moments ever.
Villa will be a tougher opponent than the spuds, let’s hope we don’t have a repeat of the last time we played them at home. Need to take our chances!
2-0 to us at halftime, both from corners. Gabriel M (18′), Ollie Watkins (OG, 41′). Watkins revealed as an Arsenal player at the break, completes his hat-trick in the second half. Canter to the title by end-March. 9.5 year contract extension for Arteta. Ayto made life peer.
I trust you were wearing something absorbent when you had that dream?
Hereditary peer, but ok.
We have to put things right against this thorn-in-our-side team.
Emirates has to be a fortress rest of the season.