The title race is finely balanced after we were edged out 2-1 by second-placed Manchester City on Sunday.
The result moved them to within three points of us, and after the match Mikel Arteta was asked about the performance, the difference between the two sides, the state of play in the Premier League and more in.
Here’s a full transcript from his post-match press conference…
On the result and the performance:
Very upset with the result, obviously. We came here to win the game. I think the message was clear from three days before. We prepared to do that, to play the game to the areas that we believe we could win it. We certainly done that. Even though we started the game with a goal down and psychologically we had to play with that, we’ve done it. So it proves that we are there, but the reality is in the two boxes today was a difference and that’s what decided the game.
On if finishing was the difference between the two sides:
Yes, the stats have been different for the profile of players that they have, we have available as well in certain areas, but the difference was 100 per cent.
On if he believes his team can still win the Premier League:
I believe today, I believe on Wednesday a week ago, because I see them every day and I know the level that we have. But today, if they need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced. They were talking about it in the dressing room. It’s a new league now. They were a game in hand. We have three points of advantage and five games to play. So everything is still to play for. So we know how much we want it and we’re not going to stop and we’re going to go again, that’s for sure.
On the importance of goal difference in the run-in:
Yeah, let’s see what happens. It’s the Premier League. First of all, to win a game in this league, it’s extremely tough. I mean, the fixtures that we both have, it’s going to be tough for both of them. You know, we would have already 80 points or 85 points like happened in other seasons. This is not the case. So yeah, we will prepare game by game and learn from what happened today and do better.
On what can be improved in attack:
That’s very difficult. I mean, the margins are… I mean, we hit the post and I just look at the images, it’s incredible how the ball doesn’t go in. So there is an element of luck. There is an element there of timing, of execution. There’s a lot of things that have to be your way. They didn’t go our way and we have to recognise that. At the end, winning and not winning is going to come down to these moments. And there are certain individual moments that you need in order to achieve what we want. That’s for sure.
On his comment regarding ‘profiles of players’ in both boxes:
No, generally the team. I mean, every team has an identity because of the players and the manners that they have, and especially when you play against this opponent, you have to be very clear what you have to do and where you want to play the game. I think that we’ve done that really, really well.
On the mood in the dressing room post-match:
Obviously, they were very disappointed not to get a result from the game in the manner that it happened. That’s the feeling immediately you could say that they were talking about and they said, ‘OK, we lost an opportunity today, but we have the biggest one now in the next five games, so let’s do it.’
On the challenge of picking players up:
No. I mean, if I have to pick the players to win the Premier League with five games to go in our hands and be in the semi-final of the Champions League, I think I should be at home. So it’s not the case. It’s not needed. It’s never been needed, even in difficult moments. So we go again, that’s for sure.
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Arteta: “It’s a new Premier League now”
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