Mikel Arteta declared that Arsenal is now a major contender in the race for the title following their impressive 3-1 victory over Liverpool. He praised their elite mentality, which distinguishes them from other top teams.
After conceding a goal by their own teammate Gabriel Magalhães, Arsenal bounced back and scored two goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard to secure a win over Liverpool. Martinelli’s goal also had an element of luck as a miscommunication between Alisson and Virgil van Dijk left the goal empty. However, Arsenal played well and deserved the victory, putting them just two points behind the top team.
“We are definitely in the running,” Arteta stated in response to a question about their chances for a title. “Our goal is to stay in that position. Our performance has been consistently strong throughout the season, which is why we are where we are today. We are taking it one game at a time and the availability of our players will be crucial, as we learned from last season. We will strive to make that a reality.”
There were worries when Oleksandr Zinchenko left at half-time due to concerns about a calf injury, according to Arteta. It is uncertain how severe the injury is. Bukayo Saka, who also left the game early after being kicked in the ankle or back of the foot, is not believed to have sustained a serious injury. Gabriel Jesus, who was absent from the game due to a knee issue, may be available for the Sunday match against West Ham.
Arteta expressed his satisfaction with his team’s strong mental fortitude. He emphasized the importance of consistently maintaining a strong mindset in order to reach the top level. Today, we rose to that challenge and proved ourselves against what I believe to be the most dominant team in Europe.
The game was exceptional, with the players and our fans delivering an incredible performance. The players gave their all and poured their hearts and souls into each and every ball.
Van Dijk expressed regret for his involvement in the crucial miscommunication with Alisson during the 67th minute. He acknowledged his mistake and took full responsibility for it, admitting that it was a significant moment in the game. He believed he should have made a better decision and felt the weight of the error. He recognized that it was his responsibility and that he should have attempted to clear the ball. Although these types of mistakes are rare in his career, he is determined to bounce back from this one.
Jurgen Klopp, whose team Liverpool suffered their second loss in the league this season, supported the two players at fault. He stated, “This just goes to show that they are human beings, which makes their usual performances even more remarkable.” He also acknowledged, “Arsenal deserved to win and there is no question about that. Throughout the entire 90 minutes, we were not up to par.”
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If Manchester City wins against Brentford on Monday in one of their two remaining games, they will overtake Arsenal in second place based on goal difference. This will put two teams close behind Liverpool in the standings. However, Klopp stated that he is not worried about their competition.
“We must perform to our best abilities, face challenges during the game, give our all on the field, and see how it turns out,” he stated. “I am not feeling anxious simply because Manchester City has two games in hand.”
Source: theguardian.com
