Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has vowed to continue fighting for the Premier League title, despite his team trailing 11 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
The Gunners’ title hopes took a major hit last weekend following a 1-0 defeat to West Ham, while Liverpool extended their lead with a crucial win over Manchester City.
With Arsenal having played one game less, Arteta remains optimistic about their chances as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
“If somebody tells you at the start of the season that by this point you’ve played five matches with a red card for over half an hour, lost several key players, and yet still remain competitive, you’d be surprised,” Arteta stated.
“You’d probably expect to be mid-table and out of the Champions League. But that’s not where we are. That tells you about the resilience, ambition, and determination within this team. It’s one of my proudest moments as a manager.”
The Arsenal boss made it clear that he has no intention of giving up on the title race.
“When you’re in this position, you always want more, and I’m not going to stop—over my dead body,” Arteta declared. “We will continue fighting, improving, and giving everything to increase our chances of winning.”
Arteta also addressed concerns over Martin Ødegaard’s recent dip in form and whether it was linked to the ankle injury that sidelined him for 12 games earlier in the season.
“We don’t know for sure, but probably not,” he said. “He came back strongly and performed at a very high level. Maintaining that level consistently, especially for creative players, is always challenging.”
Despite any struggles, Arteta praised Ødegaard’s leadership on the pitch.
“His attitude, his willingness to take responsibility—even with 10 men the other day—was remarkable. That’s exactly what I expect from my players,” he added.