Arteta’s facet squandered a two-goal lead for the second recreation in a row when West Ham struck again to grab a 2-2 draw at London Stadium on Sunday.
After blowing the identical lead in final weekend’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool, the Gunners as soon as once more paid the value for taking their foot off the gasoline.
Though Arsenal are 4 factors away from second-placed Manchester City, it’s the champions who’ve all of the momentum heading into the ultimate weeks of an enthralling battle for the title.
With a house recreation towards Arsenal looming on April 26, City know they are going to be topped champions in the event that they win their final eight video games.
Ominously for Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s males have already overwhelmed them twice this season, profitable 3-1 at Emirates Stadium within the league in February, simply weeks after knocking the Gunners out of the FA Cup with a 1-1 win. -0 in Manchester.
That Arsenal are now not answerable for their very own future is a bitter capsule for Arteta to swallow after the North Londoners’ lengthy spell on the prime this time period.
Arteta admits that Arsenal’s untimely collapses towards West Ham and Liverpool had been self-inflicted wounds, with the Spaniard particularly pissed off by the way in which his gamers took his sturdy place as a right on Sunday.
However he refuses to simply accept that it was the stress of being hounded so relentlessly by City that led to the dire outcomes.
– ‘Ruthless mentality’ –
“I am certain it is not the stress. It is that we misunderstood what was wanted on the time,” he mentioned.
“It was very totally different to Liverpool by way of the sample of play. However that is the subsequent stage, it’s important to play with the identical objective when it is 2-0.”
“You must have extra composure to complete the sport. Whenever you drop your degree that quick, the sport is there for the opponent.”
Earlier than the summit with City, Arsenal host Southampton on Friday.
A win over bottom-table Saints would transfer Arsenal seven factors away from City, who will sit out of the league subsequent weekend as a result of their FA Cup semi-final towards Sheffield United on Saturday.
Fueled by Erling Haaland’s report scoring run, City, winners of their final 10 video games in all competitions, have the lead within the remaining matches after the conflict with Arsenal.
Their hardest checks might come on journeys to Fulham and Brentford, though their progress within the Champions League might additionally present a distraction.
Arsenal’s hardest video games might be a frightening go to to Newcastle and a house recreation towards a top-form Brighton, whereas a London derby towards a struggling Chelsea can’t be taken as a right.
Arteta does not suppose Arsenal’s younger facet are working out of steam in direction of the top of their surprising title bid.
However he’ll spend the times main as much as the Southampton recreation looking for solutions to the issue that threatens to smash his dream season.
“Fatigue? No. One of the best ways to say it’s to persuade the group that they will do it. We’ve got to dig actually deep and discover the answer,” he mentioned.
“We stopped taking part in for the aim of scoring a 3rd and a fourth. It appeared too simple. We gave West Ham hope and credit score, they took it.”
“We’d like that ruthless mentality to go kill a group and we’ve not completed it.”
