Mikel Arteta emphasizes the need for Arsenal to deliver near-flawless performances to compete with Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
Mikel Arteta believes that if Arsenal is to catch up with the runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool, they will need to be nearly flawless. However, he senses a resurgence in momentum following their recent slump.
Arsenal, who finished as runners-up to Manchester City in the last two seasons, were anticipated to be strong contenders again this year. However, it is Liverpool that has surged ahead, leading by eight points over second-placed City.
The Gunners are entering Saturday’s match against West Ham with confidence after their midweek 5-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.
Last weekend, they concluded a four-match winless streak in the league by defeating Nottingham Forest 3-0 at home, regaining some much-needed ground.
If Arsenal wins at the London Stadium on Saturday, they would probably move up to second place in the table before Sunday’s matches, which feature a crucial game between Liverpool and City.
During his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta was asked if his team needed to be nearly flawless in order to have any chance of catching Liverpool, who had won 10 out of their 12 games.
The Arsenal manager said, “If they keep performing like that and continue winning games at this rate, it’s certain.”
“However, our main focus is on maintaining consistent performances, which will enable us to win many games. This is a long-term effort.”
Arsenal’s Ghanaian midfielder, Thomas Partey (#5), celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 23, 2024. (Photo by Benjamin Cremel / AFP)
He mentioned that he sensed the momentum at Arsenal was picking up once more following the international break.
“Victories boost our energy and confidence,” he commented. “Those were two significant wins for us, and now it’s crucial to maintain consistency, build momentum, carry it into tomorrow’s game against a strong opponent, and aim to replicate that performance to secure the win.”
He explained, “This happens every three days, so what you did yesterday isn’t important; it’s about the upcoming days and the next performance. Can you maintain a high-level performance throughout each game given how competitive every opponent is at the moment? That’s our goal for tomorrow.”
Arsenal’s recent improvement in performance has aligned with the return of their captain, Martin Odegaard, after he spent two months out due to an ankle injury.
Arteta mentioned that the “exceptional” midfielder has started off strongly since his return earlier this month.
He said, “Martin possesses the exceptional quality of being a good player who is consistently reliable and capable of elevating the game while enhancing the performance of those around him — his presence has certainly been missed.”
