Image courtesy: X(Arsenal)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that his team faces an uphill battle to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title this season. Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s clash with West Ham on Saturday, Arteta stressed the importance of near-flawless performances to keep pace with a Liverpool side that has been dominant in the early part of the campaign.
Liverpool’s Unstoppable Form
Liverpool currently sit eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with 10 wins from their opening 12 matches. Their form has left both Arsenal and Manchester City playing catch-up. Arsenal, runners-up to City in the past two seasons, were expected to mount another strong title challenge this year. However, a recent dip in form saw them slip out of the top two.
Arteta admitted that Liverpool’s consistency sets a daunting benchmark. “If they continue that way, that’s for sure, with the numbers they’re producing and the amount of games they’re winning,” Arteta said during his pre-match press conference. He emphasized that Arsenal must maintain consistency in their performances to close the gap.
Building Momentum After a Difficult Period
Arsenal’s recent results have offered a glimmer of hope. A commanding 5-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League midweek followed a 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. These back-to-back wins have reignited momentum after a four-match winless streak in the league that cost them valuable points.
“Winning lifts the energy and our confidence,” Arteta noted. “They were two big wins for us, and now it’s about consistency, getting that momentum, and taking it further against a good opponent tomorrow.”
A win against West Ham at the London Stadium could see Arsenal move into second place temporarily, with Manchester City and Liverpool facing each other on Sunday.
Focus on Consistency and Performance
Arteta highlighted the challenges of maintaining high-level performances in a grueling schedule. “This is every three days, so it doesn’t matter what you did yesterday. It’s about the next days, the next performance,” he said. “Are you able to sustain high-level performance throughout the game because of how competitive every opponent is right now? That’s what we will try to do tomorrow.”
The Return of Martin Odegaard
Arsenal’s recent resurgence has coincided with the return of captain Martin Odegaard. The midfielder, who had been sidelined for two months with an ankle injury, has quickly re-established himself as a pivotal figure in the team.
“Good players that are so consistent and so reliable, that can take the game to a different level and make the players better around them—that’s a huge quality of Martin’s, and he has been missed,” Arteta said. Since his return earlier this month, Odegaard has impressed with his leadership and creativity, qualities that Arsenal will rely on heavily in the coming weeks.
The Road Ahead
With the Premier League entering a critical phase, Arsenal’s path to competing with Liverpool involves sustaining their recent momentum and minimizing errors. Arteta remains focused on ensuring his side improves with every game.
“The focus is on us, maintaining the consistency, especially in performances, that will give us the right to win a lot of games… this is a long run,” he reiterated.
While Liverpool’s form might make them seem untouchable at present, Arteta’s belief in his squad’s ability to rise to the challenge remains unshaken. A victory against West Ham on Saturday would further strengthen Arsenal’s bid to stay in contention, but the road ahead will demand both resilience and precision from the Gunners.
