Mikel Arteta has expressed strong conviction in Arsenal's Premier League title aspirations, emphasizing the "belief and confidence" he has in his squad. His remarks come as the Gunners find themselves atop the Premier League table as of December 25th, marking the third time in the last four years, and fifth time in Premier League history, that they've held this position on Christmas Day. However, Arsenal has yet to convert this into a title win.
Arsenal's recent 1-0 victory over Everton, secured by Viktor Gyokeres' first-half penalty, allowed them to reclaim the top spot from Manchester City. Reflecting on his team's performance, Arteta highlighted the consistency and level of their play, acknowledging the difficulty of maintaining such standards in the Premier League. He noted the team's ability to navigate challenging situations and their enjoyment of the winning process.
The winning penalty against Everton was awarded after a handball by Jake O'Brien, and the responsibility for taking the spot-kick was handed to Gyokeres after a discussion between Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and himself. Arteta lauded the players for taking ownership of such decisions on the pitch, highlighting the confidence Gyokeres displayed. He also noted that Gyokeres practices every day and is unbelievable at it.
Despite Arsenal's strong position, Arteta remains grounded, acknowledging that the title race is far from over. He recognizes the need for his team to consistently perform at a high level for the remaining six months of the competition. He also stressed that those who believe Arsenal will be ten points clear are living in a different world.
Arsenal has finished as runners-up in the Premier League for the past three seasons, intensifying the pressure on Arteta to finally secure the title. However, he is optimistic that the team can withstand the increasing pressure and achieve their objective. He has previously stated that for three seasons, Arsenal has had more points than nearly any other team in the league, but now they have to win the title.
Arteta's confidence is further bolstered by new signings, including striker Viktor Gyokeres, who he believes can contribute significantly to their title challenge. While acknowledging the challenges ahead, Arteta maintains a positive outlook, emphasizing the importance of focusing on each game and giving themselves the opportunity to achieve their dream. He also believes the atmosphere at Emirates Stadium, particularly with the Premier League trophy present, will inspire the team and everyone involved with the club.
