S Poddar
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that his side will not throw in the towel in the Premier League title quest, despite being 11 points behind leaders Liverpool.
The Gunners were dealt a blow last weekend as they were beaten 1-0 at home by West Ham, a defeat that left them further adrift of the league leaders. Only three sides have ever won the Premier League after trailing by 11 points in the past.
But with a game in hand on Arne Slot’s Liverpool and a vital encounter at Anfield already set for May 10, Arteta insists his team is not out of it.
Asked if he was prepared to admit defeat, Arteta replied defiantly: “Over my dead body. If not, I will go home.”
He highlighted the fact that despite the challenge getting even more monumental, Arsenal remain in contention. “Mathematically, it’s possible. Just three days ago, we were in a situation where it looked like the gap could be closed—only one and a half games,” he reminded us.
“The challenge is greater than three days ago, but if you wish to win the Premier League, you must do something extraordinary. Considering our situation, we may have to do something never seen in the competition’s history.”
Injuries have had a big impact on Arsenal’s season, with important attacking stars such as Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli out of action. Arteta admitted that the loss of these key players caught up with them in the loss to West Ham.
Looking back on the team’s form, he underscored their consistency: “In the past 15 games, we have won 10 and lost five—tying Liverpool’s record with the same goal difference.”
Arteta feels that Arsenal had gained good momentum prior to the West Ham match and conceded that the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after Liverpool’s triumph the same weekend.
“We’ve been incredibly consistent the last three months, particularly given what we’ve endured. We’d created that momentum, and that was the weekend we needed to carry on. But instead of that, we lost while they won.
“When you’re going so hard trying to create that momentum, pouring everything into it despite the problems, a defeat like that resonates,” he continued.
Arsenal are now up against it, but the message from Arteta is crystal clear—his men will battle until the bitter end.
