Arteta: "Arsenal can rediscover title-chasing swagger"

The Gunners let two-goal leads slip in both games and the leaders are now just four points ahead of defending champions Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

The two title-chasing teams meet at the Etihad Stadium next week in a match that could prove pivotal. Arteta said his team had reacted well after their setbacks as he prepares them to face bottom side Southampton on Friday.

"I'm very confident," he said on Thursday. "Twists and turns are part of anything you do, especially in football. Whatever the aim or the target is, it's not going to go in a linear progression. You have to know that and prepare for that and the way the team reacted this week is incredibly positive and we want to see that tomorrow night."

The Spaniard admitted his team had to be more ruthless as they chase their first English top-flight title for 19 years: "Maybe we got too comfortable at some stage in the [West Ham] game."

"It's different. They know. I don't have to coach them because they said it straight away. They know, it's in their system, it's in the gut and tomorrow we have to show it."

Arteta called on the crowd at the Emirates to create an "electric" atmosphere for Friday's match: "I want that crowd playing every single ball with our team and be no different to what we have experienced - at full capacity energy-wise and everyone very positive pushing the team."

 

April 20, 2023