Mikel Arteta: Arsenal boss dismisses 'bottlers' tag ahead of Manchester City showdown

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Mikel Arteta was adamant his Arsenal gamers weren’t bottle jobs after they conceded extra floor within the Premier League title race ahead of their showdown with Manchester City.

The Gunners snatched a dramatic level from the jaws of defeat in Friday’s 3-3 draw in opposition to relegation-threatened Southampton to increase their lead on the high of the desk to 5 factors ahead of their season-defining journey to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

A 3rd successive Premier League draw handed champions City, who’ve two video games in hand, the title race initiative however Arteta dismissed solutions Arsenal have been struggling a disaster of confidence, citing the Martin Odegaard- and Bukayo Saka-led comeback as proof.

With Manchester City on the horizon, Arteta instructed Sky Sports: “It’s not a final because there are still six games to go and still enough points to be played.

“Obviously, the priority is simply turning round this second, some gamers if they’re doubtful. Get these doubts away and put together for the sport in Manchester to win the sport.

“In soccer, you undergo moments once you make errors, or you aren’t in a superb second. You have to return away from that, and [the players] reacted all through the sport.

“It’s not that they bottled the game and said, ‘OK, it’s nothing to do with me’, and they hide. I haven’t seen anybody hiding. They were really willing to do more.”

He continued: “I don’t see a lack of confidence. When a team lack confidence normally players start to hide in certain moments. I didn’t see a single players doing that, they took risks and took the initiative.

“That is why we created the probabilities we created, that’s the reason we received again to 3-3 and may have received the sport. The confidence is there.”

Arsenal’s title hopes now rest on the outcome of Wednesday’s seismic game in Manchester, where they are tasked with arguably the most challenging assignment in European football at present.

Defending champions Manchester City have lost just one of their 15 Premier League games at Etihad Stadium and have scored 11 goals in their last three league outings.

Arsenal have not won at City since 2015, but Arteta believes they need to change their recent fortunes if they are to lift the Premier League trophy for the first time in 19 years.

“I cannot wait,” he mentioned when requested in regards to the journey to face the group with whom he received two league titles as Guardiola’s assistant. “These are the games you want to play. When everything is at stake you have to go there to win. The game will be prepared to that, that is for sure.”

With defeat certainly spelling the tip of their hopes of clinching a primary Premier League crown since 2004, Arteta acknowledged victory was important if Arsenal’s nice season was to show into a tremendous one.

“Yes, I agree,” the Gunners head coach replied. “Obviously, the task now is even bigger but the first thing we have to do is to click.

“We have to chop the errors, do all the easy and staple items a lot better. After that, we’ll win video games once more as a result of we need to win the video games if it is not for these moments.”

Asked if he was confident Arsenal could beat City, Arteta replied: “Very assured as a result of I see once more at this time [Friday]. Today [Friday] is an effective instance of the extent they’ll present and the way succesful they’re to play in opposition to a really tough opponent in a tough context. The spirit is unbelievable, and we now have to attempt to do it once more.”

Carra: Arsenal want one thing miraculous to win title

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher:

“Whether the point makes that much difference to Arsenal, I’m not quite sure. They’ve probably got to go to Man City and get three points if they want to go on and win the league. It is still in Arsenal’s hands, and we keep saying it, and it just shows you how far ahead they were.

“They’ve dropped six factors within the final three video games, and it’s nonetheless of their arms. They did have a very sizeable lead, however they’re going to should do one thing miraculous now between now and the tip of the season. But we have seen them go on runs earlier than, definitely on the again of shedding to Man City at Emirates Stadium.

“That was a big disappointment, but they went on to win the next seven games. They’ve got six games to go now, and they will have to go and do something special between now and the end of the season to win it.”

Neville: Arsenal wobbling like loopy

Sky Sports’ Gary Neville:

“The Arsenal players have to go to man City and play with freedom and the excitement they have played with all season. The worry is they are conceding goals and City are experienced and they smell blood.

“There are all of the hallmarks right here of a group which might be wobbling like loopy going to the road.

“They are looking fatigued, they are making mistakes, they look nervous and basically, they are not doing the things they have done in matches all season. They are all the hallmark signs of a team that are struggling to get through it.

“We’ll see what occurs. It’s an impressive recreation for them to look ahead to however can they play at their greatest and with the liberty they may get by being underdogs.”

Analysis: Arsenal’s crazy draw is a win for Man City

Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:

Arsenal bottled it and confirmed unbelievable character abruptly. Southampton appeared like they’d received it, then thought they may have misplaced it, then went residence with some extent in opposition to the Premier League leaders which in some way feels disappointing.

It was a mind-bending recreation on the Emirates Stadium, the tone set inside the primary minute, when Aaron Ramsdale, beneath no stress, handed straight to Carlos Alcaraz, who accepted the reward. A title race can do unusual issues to gamers. So can a relegation battle.

Logic was turned on its head.

On one aspect, a group who had coasted via video games resembling these all season all of a sudden appeared nervous, heavy-footed and sapped of consider. On the opposite, a group already written off by most, backside of the desk and winless in seven, bristled with aggression as they roared right into a lead they totally deserved.

Mikel Arteta hailed the perseverance of his gamers in getting back from two-goals down afterwards. But his response on the closing whistle, head in arms, as his dejected gamers crumpled to the turf in entrance of him, was extra telling. It’s benefit Manchester City.

Arsenal want “something miraculous”, mentioned Jamie Carragher. Wednesday’s journey to the Etihad Stadium may be extra must-not-lose than must-win, however defend as they did right here and divine intervention may be crucial even to attract in opposition to Erling Haaland and Co.

There are video games to return after that, of course. There might be extra twists and turns. But Arsenal’s frailties have been plain to see on Friday evening. Three video games, three attracts. Their late rally exhibits they’re nonetheless preventing, nevertheless it appears more and more like a shedding battle.

What’s subsequent?

Arsenal go to Manchester City on Wednesday April 26 within the Premier League; kick off 8pm. Southampton host Bournemouth on Thursday April 27 at 7.45pm at St Mary’s.