By Rasheed Adewuyi, New York
Mikel Arteta has insisted the Premier League title race remains wide open despite Arsenal FC’s narrow 2–1 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Arsenal manager maintained that the contest will be decided by fine margins as the season enters its decisive phase, expressing confidence in his team’s ability to remain competitive.
Arsenal matched City for long stretches in a high-intensity encounter but were ultimately undone by the hosts’ clinical edge in key moments. While the visitors created enough opportunities to trouble City, they were unable to convert chances that might have altered the outcome.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Arteta praised his side’s performance but acknowledged frustration at the result.
“We competed really well,” he said, highlighting the effort and intensity displayed throughout the match.
He pointed to missed opportunities as the defining factor, adding: “We had situations to score more and we didn’t take them,” reinforcing his view that Arsenal deserved more from the game.
Arteta emphasized that fixtures of this magnitude are often settled by small details, and Sunday’s contest followed that pattern. He suggested Arsenal were punished for minor lapses, while City demonstrated their usual efficiency in decisive moments.
Despite the setback, Arteta struck an optimistic tone regarding the broader title race. He believes the performance underlined Arsenal’s ability to challenge at the highest level.
Looking ahead, the Spaniard called for a swift response from his players, urging them to maintain belief as the season approaches its climax.
His message was clear: the defeat may sting, but the race for the Premier League title is far from decided, and Arsenal remain firmly in the fight.