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Mikel Arteta refusing to give up in Premier League title race after Man City defeat.
Following Wednesday night’s 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Manchester City, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta isn’t giving up on winning the Premier League title.
Arteta had downplayed rumours that it would determine the league title in the past. However, the outcome now puts City only two points ahead of Arsenal despite having played two more games and going four league games without a victory.
The title will likely be decided in City’s next three games, the first of which is their first game in hand, according to Pep Guardiola, who said so immediately following the final whistle.
“We were beaten by the better team, that’s for sure,” Arteta reflected to BT Sport, before suggesting that Arsenal didn’t even get the basics right.
“[Man City] were exceptional and when that’s the case, it’s extremely difficult to reach that level and we were no way near our level. When you open that gap against them, you get punished.
“You have to compete and win your duels, and all the very basic things – we didn’t do them in the first half. We were punished and could have been even more punished.”
Arsenal has left the door wide open for City and will now have to rely on the outcomes of other teams after taking just three of the remaining 12 potential points. Even if the Gunners win every game left, it might not be enough at this point.
Arteta is fully realistic about how hard it will be to finish as champions now but is holding onto hope.
“It’s very difficult after the way we lost, but we have to stand up, look at the bigger picture, and the fact that we are competing toe to toe with [Man City] is incredible,” he said.
“We are not going to give up. There are five games to go and, in this league, anything can happen.”