LIVERPOOL, England — Mikel Arteta emphasized that Arsenal remained unfazed by Manchester City temporarily taking the lead in the Premier League. Hours later, Arsenal regained the top position with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton.
A first-half penalty from Viktor Gyökeres secured the narrow win for Arsenal, following City’s earlier home victory against West Ham.
– Pep: Man City ‘have to improve’ to win Premier League
Just a month prior, Arsenal held a seven-point advantage over City, but Pep Guardiola’s squad has since narrowed the gap with a five-match winning streak, coinciding with Arsenal dropping points in a draw against Chelsea and a loss to Aston Villa.
Despite the mounting pressure from City ahead of their match against David Moyes’ Everton, Arteta insisted it didn’t affect his squad. “We are not focusing on that,” he stated when questioned about City’s win. “I understand that you might be, but our focus is solely on our performance.”
“The only factor we can control is our own performance and results; we recognize the challenges of this league,” he added. “The aim is to enjoy each day, give our best, and see where it leads us.”
During the match, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard and Martín Zubimendi both struck the post as they sought to extend their lead in the second half. However, Arteta’s side also faced a potential penalty scare when VAR reviewed a possible foul on Thierno Barry by William Saliba, ultimately deciding it was insufficient for a spot-kick.
While the match did not yield a more comfortable victory, Arteta stressed the importance of learning from the experience. “The margin of victory should have been larger, but that’s a lesson we must embrace while continuing to win,” he remarked. “We anticipated a tough match; in the second half, we should have added a second or third goal to ease the tension, but we didn’t, making it a more challenging game against such opponents.”
Arteta acknowledged the various challenges teams present, noting the chaotic nature of play when teams resort to long balls. “You must dominate such scenarios, and we succeeded today,” he stated. “It’s essential to enjoy the journey of winning, even through tough and exhilarating moments. It’s all part of our intention and the closeness of our victories. We must take each game as it comes and relish the experience.”