Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has declared to his team that they can reclaim the advantage over Manchester City in the title race. Arsenal faces Chelsea on Tuesday night with the chance to go four points clear of Pep Guardiola’s title favorites and put the pressure back on City.
That would leave City with two games in hand, but they face a tricky trip to Brighton on Thursday night. Any slip would hand the initiative back to the Gunners during the run-in.
Arteta believes it is beneficial for his team to go first on this occasion, allowing them to turn up the heat. “That helps, that really helps because then you are winning your matches and making the margins smaller and smaller,” said Arteta.
“That’s the only thing we can do at the moment because it’s not in our hands. We will try again and try to play really well, try to win, and if we can do that, then the pressure will increase for sure. It matters because it means you are doing your job, and that’s what matters most. Winning as a consequence of that and bringing the margins shorter is something positive.”
Arteta will reiterate this message ahead of the Chelsea game and believes his players are ready to overcome every challenge.
“It will be the same message. Keep doing what we’ve been doing. Focus on the game and the task. Prepare the game really well. That’s what we’ve tried to do with the time we have available. The boys are ready to go again.”
“It was a good test to see how we react to certain obstacles and how much we want it basically. When the task raises its level of demands, and some people question you, that’s when you stand up. They did that.”
