Mikel Arteta has called on his squad to assume full responsibility for the Premier League title chase and to "get the job done" after a brief period of rest and reflection following the defeat at Manchester City. The Gunners slipped from the top of the table after City’s 1-0 victory at Burnley on Wednesday, but with both clubs level on points and only five matches left, the championship is still very much up for grabs. Arteta described the final five‑game stretch as "a new league" and highlighted the upcoming Saturday night showdown with Newcastle at the Emirates as the first test in this fresh chapter. He believes Arsenal have the mental strength to rebound after consecutive setbacks against Bournemouth and Manchester City.
"It’s crucial that we feel confidence, trust and clarity about what we want to achieve on the pitch," Arteta told Sky Sports. "Now is the time for every player to take ownership. We can talk all day, but the real work happens on the field and we must finish the job." He praised the influence of senior members of the squad while also noting the growing importance of younger players who may lack experience but possess the personality needed for such high‑stakes moments. "We have a lot of players who step up and are very influential, but the youngsters and those without much experience also bring a lot of character to this situation," he added.
The manager said he was encouraged by the way his team responded after the loss at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. According to Arteta, the players used the time after the match to recharge, reflect and reaffirm their collective goals. "The immediate reaction in the dressing room was exactly what I wanted to see," he explained.
"You could sense that they were even more convinced than before the game that we will achieve our aim. It was a long week, the sun was shining, and we used that to refresh ourselves. We talked about the kind of team we want to be." He continued, "The analytical part was brief and at the start of the week.
After that, the focus shifted to us, to the things we want to see and build again – that connection, that clarity, and the five games left. Newcastle is game one – we go for it.
We feel privileged to be in this position, we value it, and now we must seize it." Even though Arsenal fell short against City, they received commendation for adopting a more attacking approach that seemed to catch the league leaders off guard. Arteta now faces the tactical dilemma that goal difference could become decisive in the title race, and he admits that selecting the right lineup for the remaining fixtures will be his toughest challenge, especially with key players Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori on the road to recovery. "One of the biggest headaches for any manager is nailing the line‑up – how we start and how we finish the game," Arteta said.
"We have to anticipate the game we expect at the beginning and then adapt if the context changes. Our squad has a very diverse profile, which is a strength.
Hopefully this weekend we’ll have another two or three players back – that would be a massive boost and we’re looking forward to it." Forward Gabriel Martinelli echoed Arteta’s message in a pre‑match interview with Sky Sports. He recalled the manager telling the players after the Etihad loss that they "know how to get there" and that they must finally end the 22‑year wait for a league title. Martinelli said, "He told us to have full belief in ourselves. He reminded us that we didn’t reach this point and play good football because of other people – it’s because of us.
It’s because of what we’ve done all season. We know how to get there, we want to win the title and write our names in the club’s history. In these five games the pressure will be even greater.
Everyone believes in themselves at this club, so we just have to show it on the pitch and give our best for the badge." Defender William Saliba also stressed the team’s determination to give everything in the final weeks to finally break the 22‑year drought. Speaking to Men In Blazers, he described the recent loss to City as undeserved but emphasized the lessons learned.
"We are in the crucial part of the season now," Saliba said. "The last few weeks haven’t been great, but we’ve learned from them and now we look forward to Saturday, hoping to change everything. We know what we have to do to win the league – we must start on Saturday. The pressure is on because when you play football at this level, you want these big games." He added, "When you lose a match you’re not happy.
We know we didn’t deserve that loss, but that’s life. It’s like a fight – you don’t always come out on top.
We learned a lot from that game and now we understand that everything is possible. We must win every remaining game if we want to take the Premier League. We need to stay calm, give everything on the pitch, and fight until the final whistle. It’s a collective effort – fans, players, staff – everyone must give their all." In summary, Arteta’s message to his squad is clear: take ownership, maintain belief, and execute flawlessly in the decisive final stretch.
With the title race neck‑and‑neck, the Gunners must harness their renewed confidence, integrate returning stars, and keep the attacking spirit that has begun to define their season. The next five games will determine whether Arsenal can translate their ambition into a historic league triumph.