The Gunners have been runners-up for the last two seasons, pushing Manchester City incredible hard in absorbing contests that have gone the distance. However, they are already five points behind the champions this season after dropping points in four of their nine games.
That included a 2-2 draw at the Etihad, where an injury-time John Stones equaliser preserved City's unbeaten run and cost Arsenal two points. Pep Guardiola's side are still yet to taste defeat in any competition this season and are a point ahead of Liverpool at the top of the league table after nine games.
With City setting such a high bar during Guardiola's time at the club, there is usually little margin for error for any team looking to win the title. Arteta admits that being five points behind is not where they want to be, yet is still encouraged by what he senses from his team.
"You don’t want to be in that position. You want to be five points ahead but this is where we are," he said after the 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
"The team is alive, the team wants it. I feel it every single day. The players that cannot play, they are upset that they are not playing. The ones getting injured, the ones that are there they are in a good moment.
"Things will turn up and we are going to be in a better place. But we are certainly there."
0 Comments