Arsenal are “highly motivated” to compete with Manchester City in the Premier League title race, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday after his side slipped to second in the standings following their midweek 3-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s team.
Arsenal lost the top spot, which they had held since August, to their opponents on goal difference with both teams tied on 51 points.
Arteta’s side, though, have a game in hand and travel on Saturday to face Aston Villa, who are managed by former Arsenal manager Unai Emery.
“I know the right things we have to do to continue to be there (at the top),” Arteta told reporters. “We have seen where the level is and what we have to do to be at that level.
Pep Guardiola. File picture
“There are a lot of positive things to take from the season so far... We know that the level of efficiency has to be good with every single game to beat them (City) at the end. We are highly motivated to do that.”
Arteta urged his side to be more efficient after they picked up only one point in their last three league games.
“... With the amount of play and situations we generated we haven’t had enough points. That is down to us, we have to improve on that because we want to win more games.
“So we are highly motivated for tomorrow’s (Saturday) game because we want to win the game,” he added.
Thomas Partey will undergo an assessment for the match due to a muscle problem, while Emile Smith Rowe (thigh) could be in the squad but Gabriel Jesus (knee) is yet to recover.
“He (Partey) had some discomfort in a little muscle. We have to assess him this morning to see how he is,” Arteta said.
Arsenal pressed with intensity by City on Wednesday and produced a spirited performance, but their frailties were clear to see. Eddie Nketiah put a free header wide, Takehiro Tomiyasu volleyed a chance over and Bukayo Saka fluffed his lines when he took too long to get a shot away.
Arteta’s decision to opt for Tomiyasu, rather than Ben White, at right back, backfired when he handed City the opener with a mistimed back pass which Kevin De Bruyne lifted over Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Their shortcomings continued, with Tomiyasu sending an effort soaring over the bar soon after. They had 10 shots but only one on target, a statistic which may help to explain why they have scored only twice in their last four games, including the 1-0 FA Cup defeat by City.
It is a familiar story for Arsenal who have struggled to scrape positive results from disappointing performances like championship-winning sides of recent years.
Pep shows modesty
Manchester City do not have momentum in the title race, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.
“They (Arsenal) have one game in hand so nothing has changed much. We are just thinking about Nottingham Forest,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of Saturday’s league trip to Nottingham Forest. “Momentum is winning 10 games in a row and that didn’t happen to us this season.”
Guardiola added that City’s current position in the standings is in keeping with his expectations ahead of the season, saying, “I would not have expected to be a lot of points in front after winning titles back to back, it’s almost impossible.”
Liverpool, Everton feel FA heat
Liverpool: Liverpool and Everton have been charged by the Football Association (FA) following a “mass confrontation” between their players during Monday’s Merseyside Derby in the Premier League.
The incident took place in the 86th minute, which Liverpool won 2-0 at Anfield.
Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Liverpool’s Andy Robertson were both booked near the touchline before the incident escalated, with a number of players and substitutes from both teams getting involved.
“It’s alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players and/or benches failed to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion, and/or refrained from provocative behaviour,” the FA said in a statement.
The clubs have until February 20 to respond to the charges.
Reuters