Mikel Arteta has unequivocally stated that playing for a draw in Arsenal’s crucial Premier League encounter against Manchester City on Sunday has not crossed his mind "for one second".
The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium holding a six-point advantage over Pep Guardiola’s side, with avoiding defeat potentially pivotal in their pursuit of a first league title in 22 years.
Despite the high stakes, Arteta remained resolute in his pre-match press conference.
"I’m not going to spend one second talking about that," he declared when asked about a defensive approach. "We prepare every game to win. That’s why we are where we are and we’re going to continue to do the same."
He added, "we have earned the right to be in this position, to be challenging for the title, and with the possibility to win and the opportunity to win on Sunday, arguably against the best team and the best manager that this league has ever seen. That’s a huge privilege, and we can’t wait to play, and we’re going to prepare the game to win it, that’s for sure."
However, Arsenal face the formidable challenge without key forward Bukayo Saka, who Arteta confirmed on Friday remains sidelined with an Achilles injury.
Saka’s absence has coincided with a concerning dip in form for the north London club, who have secured just one victory in their last five outings.
Last weekend’s defeat by Bournemouth has seemingly shifted momentum towards City, who capitalised on their rivals’ home loss with a commanding 3-0 win at Chelsea.
The fixture is being widely billed as one of the most significant in recent Premier League history. Guardiola had previously suggested that City’s championship aspirations would be over if they were to lose to Arsenal.
Responding to these comments, Arteta offered a pragmatic view: "There are six games to go. It’s a really important one for both teams, and it (a win for Arsenal) will incline the balance a little bit. I mean winning at this stage you are a bit closer.
“If we win the first game in the semi-final of the Champions League we’re going to be closer. That’s why it is clear we want to win the game on Sunday."
The last meeting between the two title contenders at the Etihad in September 2024 was a fiery affair, culminating in Erling Haaland launching a ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel and telling Arteta to "stay humble" amid a post-match clash.
When questioned if he ever understood Haaland’s remarks, Arteta simply replied: "No." He then added with a smile: "That’s one of the nicest things that you can get told. It’s obviously an extremely competitive match between top sides that are looking to win the Premier League. It doesn’t get better than that and that competition for sure is going to be seen on the pitch."
While Saka is out, Noni Madueke, who limped off in Arsenal’s draw with Sporting Lisbon, is expected to be fit for Sunday.
Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori will all undergo assessments on Saturday, adding further uncertainty to Arsenal’s squad ahead of the pivotal clash.
