- Manchester City defeated Premier League leaders Arsenal 4-1 at Etihad on Wednesday night
- The defeat has left Arsenal’s hopes of winning the 2022/23 Premier League title in shambles
- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is refusing to give up on the PL title despite the heavy defeat
Following Wednesday night’s 4-1 hammering at the hands of Manchester City, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has refused to lose up on the Premier League title fight.
Arteta has previously dismissed ideas that it would be a title decider. However, the setback leaves Arsenal, who have now gone four league games without a win, only two points clear of City despite having played two more games.
Pep Guardiola noted immediately following the final whistle that City’s next three games, the first of which is their first game in hand, will be key in determining who wins the title.
Manchester City forward Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring against Arsenal in a Premier League clash on Wednesday, April 26 2023. | PHOTO: Manchester City FC |
“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.
READ: Manchester City display dominance over league leaders Arsenal
“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.”
Having taken only three points from the last 12 on offer, Arsenal have thrown the door wide open for City and will now have to rely on results from others. At this stage, even if the Gunners win all of their remaining games it still may not be enough.
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.”
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