Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal side should have two Premier League titles to their name given the standards they hit in recent seasons – and the reality they are empty-handed gives the Gunners boss faith his team can catch Liverpool.
Arteta’s Arsenal spent the previous two seasons competing with Manchester City at the top, hitting 84 and 89 points but having to settle for the runners-up medal on both occasions.
This season, City are out of the picture but Liverpool go into what looks like a pivotal weekend at the top of the Premier League table with a six-point advantage with a game in hand. Arsenal travel to Brighton on Saturday, before Liverpool host Manchester United a day later – both matches are live on Sky Sports.
Asked by Sky Sports’ Natalie Gedra on how to block out the noise that suggests Arsenal are too far away from the summit this season, Arteta replied: “Winning and performing the way we are today, regardless of what happens with the team and focusing on the things we can control every single day – paying attention to that.
“Because what can Liverpool do? We were in that position. Two years ago we had 50 points in the first leg and then didn’t manage to win the league. It can happen to any team, it’s so tough.
“We are only halfway and already the amount of talking we have expensed for weeks and weeks and weeks about the title race? It’s nonsense.
“Because there are a lot of games to play and in this league, it can be one, two, three [results] and everything is changed. We have to be ready.”
Asked what Arteta has learned from the last two seasons, he responded: “That you can always do better and you can always improve. With those numbers, normally you win and we should have two Premier Leagues.
“The reality is we don’t, so there’s more motivation, more eagerness, more enthusiasm to say: can we still look at our team and say we can be better? My answer is yes in every department, so let’s go for it.”
Arteta: Nwaneri wants to be the protagonist
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri had an encouraging first Premier League start against Brentford
Whether Arsenal sign a forward player between now and the end of this January transfer window could be crucial for the Gunners’ hopes of reaching the top of the Premier League by the end of May.
The north Londoners’ need for extra firepower was further heightened by a long-term injury to Bukayo Saka, whose hamstring injury before Christmas will rule him out for more than two months.
“It’s natural that it happens,” said Arteta about the constant transfer window questions at this time of year.
“There’s the opportunity to improve the squad, to bring players that you believe can impact. We are always open to that.
“But that’s one part. The main part is: how can we get more out of the team, the individuals we have and put the focus there?”
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Paul Merson has urged his former club Arsenal to try to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle to add more goals to their Premier League title threat
One figure stepping into the breach in Saka’s absence is Ethan Nwaneri, with the 17-year-old becoming Arsenal’s third-youngest starter in Premier League history when he began the 3-1 comeback win over Brentford on New Year’s Day.
The teenager started on Saka’s right-wing position and had a big part to play in Arsenal’s third goal – and Arteta believes Nwaneri has the personality to play regularly for his team.
“The main thing is: don’t look at his birthday,” said Arteta. “That’s very important because when you start to look at his age, there’s always restrictions. And it’s not fair on the player.
“It’s what we see daily: how he trains and how he prepares himself, the way the team-mates look at him and how much they trust him. When a player is like this, the quality that he has, the understanding that he has and the personality that he has to play, he needs an opportunity and he deserves it.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gives the latest on Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling, Benjamin White and Takehiro Tomiyasu and potential incomings and outgoings for transfers in January
“Outside the field, he’s super humble, very polite and quiet. On the pitch? Full transformation. ‘Give me the ball, I want to be the protagonist, I want to make things happen’. He’s really brave.”
Watch Brighton vs Arsenal live on Sky Sports Premier League on Saturday Night Football from 5pm; kick-off 5.30pm