Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal CAN handle the heat during title race but admits ‘there’s another step to take’ in challenging the ‘best team in the world’ after 0-0 draw with Manchester City
- Mikel Arteta praised his side’s decisive action in denying the hosts three points
- The result leaves Guardiola’s team three points behind the top spot and one point behind Arsenal
- Why a defeat to Arsenal will be the curtain on Man City’s title defense – Listen to the It’s all Kicking Off podcast
Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal have now proven they can handle the heat of a Premier League title race, but is still demanding more from his side.
While the Gunners had just 28 percent of the ball against Manchester City, they limited the defending champions to minimal chances to score a crucial point.
It allowed Liverpool to take the lead, with Jurgen Klopp’s Reds now three points ahead, but Arteta insisted the draw showed how his side have emerged as serious challengers.
“We are improving, we are competing better and we understand how to compete in these games,” Arteta said. “There’s one more step you have to take to win championships, and that is you have to win. Today we were able to draw and we still have to improve a lot to win.
‘The downside is that we had to score in a number of situations. We didn’t get the most out of it. I think the next step is having composure on the ball.”
“Eleven months ago we were here and the story was very different,” Arteta said after the match
Mikel Arteta faced his old boss Pep Guardiola as he led his Arsenal team to the Etihad
Arsenal were beaten 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium last year, but managed to demolish City in a resolute game.
Pep Guardiola has not seen his side beat any of the top five so far this season
Arsenal were beaten 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium last year, but demolished City in a resolute game that showcased the partnership between Gabriel and William Saliba.
“We can’t be satisfied if we draw, but it’s OK,” Saliba said. ‘We learn from some matches that we cannot win. We don’t have to lose, and we didn’t, so we did well. We leave with one point, but we are not satisfied.’
Arteta added: ‘Eleven months ago we were here and the story was very different. You have to take steps as a team and we did that today. There are many more to come.
‘You want to win the game. You prepare to win it. If you can’t win it, make sure you sign it. We did that.
‘In my opinion, City are by far the best team in the world. They have by far the best manager in the world. The challenge ahead is to catch up and become better than them.”
Pep Guardiola has seen his side fail to beat the top five so far this season, with Arsenal keeping two clean sheets by taking four points from the champions, but he insists they are still could have a say in the title race.
“The numbers are here, but apart from Arsenal (most) we were very good,” Guardiola said. ‘Villa down the road was the worst. We played very well the rest of the time.”
