Manager Mikel Arteta emphasised on Monday that Arsenal is still competing for the Premier League championship and is not content with merely making the Champions League.
Arsenal has already qualified for the Champions League after a six-year absence, but a humiliating 4-1 loss to Manchester City last week allowed them to lose control of the Premier League championship battle.
City is now a strong favourite to retain its crown, but Arteta insisted that his players' aspirations had not been dampened by the defeat.
Coach Mikel Arteta of Arsenal remarked, “That is the mentality that we need and that is what I love more these last few days,” before to Tuesday's matchup at home versus Chelsea. “We still aren't happy, we're still angry, and we want more.”
Arteta said “a lot of things are going to happen still” in a championship fight that many have already predicted for Pep Guardiola's squad with five games remaining for Arsenal and six for Man City.
After winning 2-1 against Fulham on Sunday, City is once again in first place, one point ahead of Arsenal, which has lost its last four games. Additionally, Guardiola's team has played one fewer game.
This season, Arsenal has held the top spot for 247 of those nights. On Tuesday, they can extend that streak with a victory against Chelsea, which has only two points from six league games and is in a rapid decline.
What I want is this. Win tomorrow and you'll be on top, said Arteta. “Great, everyone is still dissatisfied with the situation even if we are in the Champions League. This is what we need in order to advance as a team and as a club. What we need to do is move on to the next game and forget about what happened last week.
William Saliba, the centre defender, will be out again on Tuesday due to a back issue, Arteta said.
Wednesday against West Ham at home, Man City will try to win their ninth consecutive league game.
