Trailing by eleven points and grappling with an injury-hit forward line, Arsenal faces yet another challenge with a player now suspended due to a red card. These daunting obstacles cast doubt on their Premier League title hopes. However, Mikel Arteta isn’t deterred.
“In no way,” declared the Arsenal manager passionately, refuting any suggestion that Liverpool’s hold on the title might cause him to give up. “If I concede, I might as well leave. Mathematically, it’s still within reach. We must approach each match with this mindset.”
Arsenal’s aspirations for their first top-flight championship since 2004 suffered a significant blow over a weekend where Arteta’s side, which stands second, faltered in a 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham. Meanwhile, league leaders Liverpool capitalized with a 2-0 victory over Manchester City.
As the championship race seemed to reignite, Liverpool extended their lead over Arsenal to 11 points while playing an extra game. The season test continues with a critical phase of enduring five league matches in just 15 days, concluding with a home face-off against Newcastle on Wednesday.
Simultaneously, Arsenal will face a challenging away fixture at third-place Nottingham Forest, still missing key forwards Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus due to injuries. Additionally, left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly will be absent following his red card dismissal against West Ham.
The team’s struggle with discipline is evident, receiving five red cards thus far — more than any other Premier League club this season.
In such trying times, Arteta suggests that, to clinch the title, the players might need to achieve something unprecedented in Premier League history.
“If you’d known at the start of the season we’d end up playing significant chunks of five matches a player down, with injuries claiming key attackers, would you imagine we’d be mid-table or out of the Champions League spots? Despite these setbacks, we’re not,” Arteta remarked. “This reflects the tenacity, determination, and drive within the team and each player, marking some of my proudest moments here.”
