“There’s two games still to go and we’re not going to bottle that for sure” – Arteta says Arsenal can ‘still be champions’ despite blowing lead
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will not 'bottle' their last two matches of the season. The Gunners manager is still not giving up on their hopes of becoming Premier League champions.
Arsenal had a eight-point lead over Manchester City, but have slipped up in the last few weeks. They are now 4 points behind Pep Guardiola's side, who can seal the title with a win over Chelsea this weekend.
Speaking to the media ahead of the visit to Nottingham Forest, Arteta claimed he was still confident of his players giving it their all in the last two matches. He told the media via ESPN:
"We're still there, with two games to go we can still be champions against probably the best team in Premier League history. For 10 months we're still there. There are two games still to go, and we're not going to bottle that for sure. What happens next season will depend on what we do how, we evolve and how we start. That prediction is very difficult to do today."
Manchester City can be crowned champions this season even if they lose to Chelsea, if Arsenal drop points at Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal planning to rebuild the squad in the summer
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that they will be looking to add depth to the squad in the summer. He added that they want to continue fighting for titles and is ready to help the club evolve.
He told the media via ESPN:
"At the level that we want, no [we don't have the depth]. We didn't have the capacity to do that as well with the Europa League, so it's part of that evolution. We have made a lot of good steps and strong steps in that journey and we have to continue. That never ends. We want to be better and the rest will be better, then the margins will be higher, and we have to start to live with those standards and improve and be smarter."
He added:
"That doesn't mean only signing players. It's to improve our own players. There are players that we haven't had the best out of them this season. There are a few players where they haven't had the minutes or the performances, and we have to seek as well for those players to give us a different edge."
Arsenal are set to finish the season trophyless despite being on top of the Premier League table for 93% of the season.