Mikel Arteta has said his side still believe they can become Premier League champions on Sunday, despite Manchester City’s advantage going into the final day of the season.
The Blues’ win at Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday saw them establish a two-point lead over Arsenal and means that victory over West Ham United will see Pep Guardiola’s side win a fourth consecutive league title.
On the nine previous occasions the title fight has gone down to the final day it has been won by the side who started the afternoon in top spot. But, speaking in Friday’s press conference, Arteta said he still has belief that can change, even if City have won the eight games in a row.
“The only thing that we have discussed is giving ourselves the opportunity to live a beautiful day on Sunday where the dream is still alive and is possible, and it’s football.
“So yes, we have to be very optimistic. The trophy is going to be there and it’s possible. We have to do our duties, and then we have to wait and see what happens.”
Regardless of what happens on the final day, for the Gunners it’s a huge improvement on last season when City secured top spot with three games of the 2022/23 campaign remaining. This time around, Arsenal have been relentless and have won 15 of their 17 league matches since the turn of the year.
“From August, 38 games against Manchester City and what they’ve done in the last 20 years as a club, with what we’ve done in the last 20 years in the Premier League, we’d have zero chance. We cannot start like this. We have to believe, for sure.”
