Mikel Arteta isn’t throwing in the towel just yet, but let’s be real Arsenal’s title hopes are hanging by a thread. A frustrating 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford has left the Gunners 15 points behind Liverpool with only ten games left to play. That gap is looking more like a canyon, even with Arsenal having a game in hand.
But Arteta? He won’t admit defeat. Not publicly, anyway.
“I Don’t Want to Say That” – Arteta’s Reluctance to Concede
When asked if the Premier League title was now out of reach, Arteta’s response was telling:
“I don’t want to say that, but today the frustration is that we haven’t won our game. We know the urgency and you’re obligated to win every single match. You won’t have any chance without doing that.”
In other words, he knows what’s at stake. The margins in the Premier League are razor-thin, and Arsenal have now dropped seven points in their last three games a costly slump at the worst possible time.
Arsenal’s Struggles in the Final Third
Despite dominating large parts of the game, the Gunners once again lacked the killer instinct in front of goal. Arteta didn’t shy away from admitting it:
“The efficiency we had in the last 20 metres wasn’t good enough.”
That’s been the story of Arsenal’s recent games. The build-up is silky, the control is there, but the final product? Missing. Against United, Declan Rice rescued a point with a 74th-minute equalizer, but Arsenal simply couldn’t convert their dominance into three points.
Bruno’s “Smart” Free-Kick Sparks Controversy
Speaking of goals, Bruno Fernandes’ cheeky free-kick just before halftime stirred up some drama. The Arsenal wall was pushed back 11.2 yards instead of the regulation 10, giving Fernandes just a little more room to bend it into the net.
When Arteta was asked about it, he kept it classy:
“Football is for smart street players, and if he’s done that and capitalized on it, he was more clever than us and the referee.”
Translation? United got away with one, but Arsenal should’ve been smarter.
Arteta Walks Off When Asked About the Title
Perhaps the most telling moment of the night came in Arteta’s post-match interview on Sky Sports. When asked if the title race was over, he simply walked away. If that doesn’t say it all, what does?
What’s Next for Arsenal?
Arsenal have no time to dwell. If they want even the slimmest shot at catching Liverpool, they need to be flawless in the remaining games. Ten wins or bust. Can they pull off a miracle? Maybe. But after this latest setback, it would take a collapse of epic proportions from Liverpool.
For now, Arteta might not be saying it out loud, but Arsenal fans know: This one hurts.
