'Over My Dead Body': Arteta Refuses to Concede Premier League Title Race Despite 11-Point Gap
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has defiantly rejected suggestions that his team's Premier League title challenge is over, despite falling 11 points behind leaders Liverpool following a disappointing defeat to West Ham last weekend.
The Gunners' title hopes took a significant blow with the unexpected home loss, while Liverpool strengthened their position at the summit with a crucial victory over Manchester City at the Etihad. However, Arteta remains resolute in his belief that Arsenal can still mount a remarkable comeback.
When questioned about whether he was ready to admit defeat in the title race, Arteta responded with characteristic determination: "Over my dead body. If not I will go home. Mathematically it is possible. You are there, you have to play every game, suddenly three days ago we could close a gap and you are like 'you are one-and-a-half games away.' It doesn't matter, we have to continue to go."
The Spanish manager acknowledged the increasing difficulty of their task but emphasized that achieving something extraordinary is precisely what's required to lift the Premier League trophy: "The difficulty is higher than three days ago but if you are going to win the Premier League you have to do something special. If you are going to win the Premier League with the circumstances we have you will probably have to do something that nobody else has done in the history of the Premier League."
Arsenal's recent defeat highlighted their attacking limitations, with the team struggling to create clear-cut chances in the final third. The situation has been exacerbated by injuries to key personnel, forcing Arteta to rely on Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard, and young prospect Ethan Nwaneri as his primary attacking options. The absences of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli have significantly hampered the Gunners' offensive capabilities.
Reflecting on the setback, Arteta said: "It was a very disappointing weekend. In the previous 15 games, we had won 10 and drawn five - exactly the same as Liverpool with exactly the same goal difference. So we have been extremely consistent over the last three months considering everything we have been through. We have generated that momentum and it was that weekend where we have to go again but we got a defeat. On top of that they [Liverpool] win."
He continued: "When you are trying to beat that momentum and we put so much into it with the circumstances that we have, it was a really hard one to take. The reality is there are so many games to play and you have to get back to it."
Despite the odds stacked against them, Arteta maintains confidence that his squad can orchestrate a remarkable turnaround. Arsenal will look to reignite their title aspirations when they face Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, knowing that every point is now crucial if they are to keep their increasingly slim championship hopes alive.
