Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal have now proven they are capable of handling the heat of a Premier League title race – but is still demanding more from his squad.
While the Gunners boasted only 28 per cent of the possession against Manchester City, they restricted the defending champions to minimal chances in earning a vital point.
It allowed Liverpool to take charge, Jurgen Klopp‘s Reds now three points clear, but Arteta insisted the draw has shown how his side have arrived as serious challengers.
‘We are improving, we are competing better and we are understanding how to compete in these games,’ Arteta said. ‘There’s another step to make to win championships and that’s that you have to win. Today we were able to draw and we have to improve a lot still to win.
‘The downside is that we had some situations to score. We didn’t make the most out of it. I think the next step is to have the composure with the ball.’
‘Eleven months ago we were here and the story was very different’ Arteta said after the game
Mikel Arteta faced his old boss Pep Guardiola when he led his Arsenal team to the Etihad
Arsenal were hammered 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium during last year’s run-in but were able to nullify City in a resolute display
Pep Guardiola has seen his side fail to beat any of the top five so far this season
Arsenal were hammered 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium during last year’s run-in but were able to nullify City in a resolute display that showcased the partnership between Gabriel and William Saliba.
‘We cannot be satisfied when we draw, but it is OK,’ Saliba said. ‘We learn from some games 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 make steps as a team and today we’ve done that. We still have many more to come.
‘You want to win the game. You prepare to win it. If you cannot win it, make sure you draw it. We did that.
‘City are the best team in the world, in my opinion, by far. They have the best manager in the world by far. To catch up and try to better than them is the challenge ahead of us.’
Pep Guardiola has seen his side fail to beat any of the top five so far this season, with Arsenal keeping two clean sheets in taking four points off the champions, but insists they can still have a say in the title race.
‘The numbers are here but except Arsenal away (most of) the others we were really good,’ Guardiola said. ‘Villa away was the worst. The rest we’ve played really well.’
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
Mail Online
