Manchester City are now just three points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand after beating the Gunners at the Etihad
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal can still win the title despite defeat by Man City(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
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Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal still believe they can win the title even after losing the potential decider at Manchester City.
Gunners boss Arteta came out fighting after a heartbreaking defeat at the Etihad and actually claimed he has even more confidence after their battling display.
City can go top on goal difference if they win their game in hand at Burnley on Wednesday night but Arteta says his players are ready for the straight shoot-out in the last five games.
Arteta said: “if they need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced. They were talking about it in the dressing room.
“It's a new league now. They were a game in hand. We have three points of advantage and five games to play. So everything is still to play for.
“So we know how much we've won it and we're not going to stop and we're going to go again, that's for sure. Obviously, they were very disappointed not to get a result from the game in the manner that it happened.
“That's the feeling, immediately you could tell that they were talking about, and they said okay, we lost an opportunity today, but we have the biggest one now in the next five games, so let's do it.”
Kai Havertz drew Arsenal level but then missed a glorious chance in the 95th minute to snatch a point which would have really turned the race in their favour.
Arsenal also hit the woodwork twice and skipper Martin Odegaard insisted they can still win the title.
Arsenal players dejected
Arsenal have it all to do to end their title drought(Image: Getty Images)
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Odegaard said: “Disappointed not to win. Obviously we wanted to get a result and we were really up for it today. We played a good game, we pressed really well.
”Especially in the second half we looked dangerous, big moments in front of goal. Small margins to decide a game like this and we weren't sharp enough in front of goal and that's why we go home with nothing.
"That's football at this level. It was always going to be like that. Very intense, very tough. Small margins. Frustrating but a lot of good things in the game from us. Now it's about looking forward to the next game to bounce back."
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