Mikel Arteta has insisted that a win for Arsenal against Manchester City on Wednesday will not decide who wins the Premier League this season.
Despite three consecutive draws for Arsenal, Arteta’s men are still five points clear of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, having played two more games than the defending champions.
With only three points from a possible nine in the last three matches, Arsenal have thrown open the race for the title, with Man City tipped as favourite.
Speaking ahead of his team’s visit to the Etihad on Wednesday, Mikel Arteta believes a win will not secure the title for the Gunners.
“No, I don’t think so,” Arteta responded when asked about ‘winner take all’ at the Etihad. “If we win tomorrow night we haven’t won the league, for sure.”
On the title momentum shifting if Arsenal gets a win, Arteta said:Â
“It will shift a little bit, probably, in the percentage. But five games in this league, with the games we both have to play, are very tricky still.”
A win for the league leaders will extend their lead at the top to eight points, but Arsenal have not won a game against Manchester City away from home since 2012.
Despite the pressure and media backlash, the Spaniard believes Arsenal can still go on to win the title.Â
“One hundred per cent. But we knew from the beginning that City was the team to beat, probably with Liverpool, because of what those teams have done in the last six or seven years, they’ve fully deserved that credit and to be at the top.Â
“We were the ones that wanted to be closing that gap as much as we possibly could, and we are toe-to-toe with them. We knew we had to go to the Etihad, we know that after that they are going to have another five very difficult games. That game is going to be really important – if it’s going to define the season, the answer is no.”
Arsenal’s trip to Manchester City on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 will kick off at 8pm.
