MX23RW : Friday, November 8 03:00:16| >> :120:15134:15134:
[monks data]
Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 34
May 2, 2023 at 8pm UK
Emirates Stadium
Chelsea logo

Arsenal
3 - 1
Chelsea

Odegaard (18', 31'), Jesus (34')
FT(HT: 3-0)
Madueke (65')
Kovacic (80'), Gallagher (90+5')

Mikel Arteta: 'We still have belief in title race'

Mikel Arteta: 'We still have belief in title race'
© Reuters
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insists that his players still believe that the Premier League title is attainable following their 3-1 win over London rivals Chelsea.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has affirmed that his players still believe that Premier League title glory is possible following Tuesday's 3-1 win over Chelsea.

The Gunners welcomed their London rivals to the Emirates Stadium having been knocked off their perch by Manchester City thanks to a miserable four-game winless run.

Arsenal's 4-1 defeat to the champions last week meant that their title destiny was no longer in their own hands, but they responded in near-perfect fashion to inflict more misery on Frank Lampard's side.

Arteta's men put the game to bed with a brilliant first-half performance, as Granit Xhaka twice set up Martin Odegaard before Gabriel Jesus prodded home after some comical Chelsea defending.

The visitors pulled one back through Noni Madueke midway through the second half, but Arsenal still held out for a comfortable win, and Arteta insisted that his squad are not giving up the ghost in the title race after leapfrogging Pep Guardiola's men into first place.

Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring for Arsenal on May 2, 2023© Reuters

When asked if his players still believed that the title was within reach, Arteta responded in a defiant manner, although he lamented his side's inability to score more early in the second half.

"For sure. We discussed that. We are at the top right now, we have four games to go. We have to prepare for Newcastle now. Let's see what happens, what we can control is to win our matches, and to do that we have to perform as well as possible," arsenal.com quotes Arteta as saying in his post-game press conference.

"I'm really pleased with the first 60 minutes. The way we approached the game, the way we started, our energy. There was a lot of movement, we played forward, scored some great goals and really connected with our supporters and created the atmosphere we wanted.

"After 60 minutes we should have scored four or five, we didn't do that and after conceding the goal there is still a long period to play and we should have managed the game a little better."

Following a difficult few weeks for Rob Holding, Arteta demoted the Englishman to the bench as Jakub Kiwior filled the William Saliba-sized void, and Arteta was pleased with the way that the Pole settled into the match after a few early wobbles.

"He looked ready, he looked fresh, he looked really determined. He's been getting better and better every single day, not only in training but his interaction and his language," Arteta said.

Martin Odegaard celebrates scoring for Arsenal on May 2, 2023© Reuters

"He's more settled and he's a player that I really like, that's why I signed him. He has the potential at his age to be great and he had a big task against the players he had to face today, and I think he did it really well."

However, the game ended on a sour note for Kiwior's defensive partner Gabriel Magalhaes, who dropped to the turf a few times before hobbling off late on.

Arteta did not have any positive updates to offer on the Brazilian's condition after the game and admitted that he is "concerned" about his injury ahead of a daunting trip to Newcastle United this weekend.

"He wasn't comfortable. We tried for 10 or 15 minutes but he could not carry on which is strange for Gabi. So we are a bit concerned about that because normally he's not one that wants to leave the pitch," Arteta said on Gabriel.

Arsenal have moved two points clear of Man City at the top, but the Citizens have two games in hand and can return to the summit when they tackle West Ham United on Wednesday.

ID:512903:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6120:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Mikel Arteta

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Game History

How you voted: Arsenal vs Chelsea

Arsenal
74.6%
Draw
11.5%
Chelsea
13.9%
445
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Fikayo Tomori celebrates scoring for AC Milan on October 8, 2022
Read Next:
Arsenal, Newcastle 'send scouts to watch Tomori'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Bengals
@
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!