Mikel Arteta remains steadfast in his belief that Arsenal can still mount a title challenge, despite falling 11 points behind leaders Liverpool.
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Arsenal fell to West Ham last weekend Liverpool beat Man City to further widen the gapFace a tricky test against Forest away from homeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Gunners’ hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy suffered a significant setback last weekend following a shock home defeat to West Ham. Meanwhile, Liverpool strengthened their grip on the top spot with a crucial victory over Manchester City at the Eihad. Despite the widening gap, Arteta has refused to give up hope, insisting his team can still produce something extraordinary to claw their way back into contention.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT ARTETA SAID
When asked if he was ready to admit defeat in the title race, Arteta delivered a defiant response.
"Over my dead body," he told reporters. "If not I will go home. Mathematically it is possible. You are there, you have to play every game, suddenly three days ago we could close a gap and you are like 'you are one-and-a-half games away.' It doesn't matter, we have to continue to go.
"The difficulty is higher than three days ago but if you are going to win the Premier League you have to do something special. If you are going to win the Premier League with the circumstances we have you will probably have to do something that nobody else has done in the history of the Premier League."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Arsenal’s attacking struggles were evident in their defeat to West Ham, where they lacked firepower in the final third. With injuries depleting the squad, Arteta has had to rely on Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard, and young Ethan Nwaneri as his primary attacking options. Indeed, the absence of key players such as Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli has been a major setback for the Gunners.
Arteta added: "It was a very disappointing weekend. In the previous 15 games, we had won 10 and drawn five – exactly the same as Liverpool with exactly the same goal difference. So we have been extremely consistent over the last three months considering everything we have been through. We have generated that momentum and it was that weekend where we have to go again but we got a defeat. On top of that they [Liverpool] win.
"When you are trying to beat that momentum and we put so much into it with the circumstances that we have, it was a really hard one to take. The reality is there are so many games to play and you have to get back to it."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
While the odds may be against them, Arteta remains confident that his side can still pull off a remarkable comeback. They will aim to bounce back and keep their faint title hopes alive when they face Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.
