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Mikel Arteta doesn’t think Arsenal’s trip to Manchester City is like a final after his side dropped Premier League points for the third week in a row.
On Friday night, the Gunners came from two goals down to claim a point against relegation-threatened Southampton.
The result will look like a defeat for both sides as Saints would have been able to drop off the bottom of the table with a win.
Arsenal are now five points clear of holders Manchester City – who are two games down – having drawn against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton in their previous three meetings.
Crucially, however, the two sides will meet next Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium in what could be a game-winning fixture.
When asked about the title race and whether the encounter against Pep Guardiola’s men is like a final, Arteta insisted it isn’t.
«It hasn’t changed,» said the Spanish coach. «Obviously the task is even bigger, but now we have to do simple things better and eliminate mistakes and then you will win games.
“It’s not a final because there are still six games left. The concern is to go around these moments especially if the players are in doubt in some moments. In football you go through moments where you make mistakes and you’re not in a good moment, but you have to come out of it.
“I have not seen anyone hiding, on the contrary, they are willing to do more and more.
«I agree. Very confident, today is a good example of the level they can show, how capable they are of playing against a different type of opponent. The spirit is incredible and we have to try to do it again.»
READ MORE: Arsenal show struggle in dramatic Southampton draw but also show title pressure is too much
On the manic draw against Southampton, Arteta said: «Obviously unhappy with the result, we still made things very difficult for ourselves but mistakes are part of football but the way we reacted I love my players more than ever.» .
“It’s incredible, we were on the way back, we conceded again with a sloppy goal but in the end we should have won the match. We created enough chances and opportunities but it didn’t happen and we are disappointed.
“You can’t concede three goals in this league, if you concede three like we did in a sloppy way it’s very difficult to win games.
“This young team reacts in an incredible way when it’s against the odds, but the chances they’ve created and the spirit they’ve had have been a joy to watch. The message is clear that I love them.
“We are down and they are more willing than anyone else to win it. You can see that spirit and fight in the dressing room, but it’s clear that we have to do defensive things better.
Gabriel Jesus missed out on a couple of great chances and could eventually have won it for Arsenal, and as someone with experience of winning the Premier League, he will be called upon against City next week.
The Brazilian striker was eager to capture the positives of Friday’s draw and insisted Arsenal’s race to win the title is not over.
“A lot is happening now,” Jesus said. “We don’t want to come here and talk negatively because we’re very positive, what we’re doing this season is amazing. The Premier League is tough.
“Now is the difficult time. The time has come to stick together until the end. We still have many things to do this season, it’s not over, we still have a five-point lead. Manchester City have two games to go, but if we want to be champions we have to go there to win the game, that’s all.
“We are the youngest team in the league, we don’t make excuses. Sometimes we do right and sometimes we do wrong, everyone can make mistakes, that’s why it’s so important to stick together.
«Anything could happen. Obviously we’re not happy with the last three games, we’ve lost points and we know it’s true, no one has to tell us. We have lowered the level and concentration a bit, this is the Premier League, it is so difficult to win this competition.
«We are still there, we are still fighting and we will fight to the end.»
READ MORE: Granit Xhaka to be Arsenal’s first casualty as Arteta seeks Guardiola ‘evolution’
