Mikel Arteta has called on his squad to assume full responsibility for the Premier League 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 summit when City secured a 1-0 victory at Burnley on Wednesday, yet both clubs remain level on points with five matches left, meaning the championship is still up for grabs. Arteta framed the final five‑game stretch as a "new league" and highlighted the upcoming Saturday evening clash with Newcastle at the Emirates as the first test of this fresh phase.
He emphasized that Arsenal are ready to bounce back after consecutive setbacks against Bournemouth and Manchester City, insisting that confidence, trust and a clear sense of purpose are essential on the pitch. "It's vital that we feel the confidence, the trust and the clarity about what we want to achieve on the field," he told Sky Sports.
"Now is the moment for each of us to take ownership. We can talk all day, but we must step onto the pitch and get the job done." The manager praised the influence of senior players while also noting the importance of younger members and those with less experience, all of whom have shown personality and a willingness to step up in crucial moments.
Arteta was heartened by the way his players responded to the loss at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. He said they used the time after the match to recharge, reflect and re‑align their objectives. "The immediate reaction in the dressing room was exactly what I wanted to see," he explained.
"I could sense they were even more convinced than before the game that we can still achieve our goal." He described the week following the defeat as a period of rejuvenation: "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 become.
The analytical part was brief; the rest of the week was about focus, connection, and clarity for the remaining five games. Newcastle is game one – we go for it." Arteta added that the club feels privileged to be in such a position and that the responsibility now lies in capitalising on it. Despite the loss, Arsenal received praise for adopting a more attacking approach against Manchester City, a tactic that appeared to catch the new league leaders off‑balance. Looking ahead, Arteta acknowledged that goal difference could become a decisive factor and that squad selection will be his toughest challenge in the closing weeks, especially with Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori edging back from injury.
"One of the biggest headaches for any manager is nailing the starting line‑up and deciding how we finish the game," he said. "We have a varied player profile, which is a strength. Hopefully this weekend we’ll have two or three more players returning – that would be a massive boost." Forward Gabriel Martinelli relayed Arteta's message to the squad after the Etihad defeat, emphasizing belief and self‑reliance.
"He told us to have full belief in ourselves. We didn’t get to this point by relying on anyone else; 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 into the club’s history.
In those final five games, the pressure will be even greater," Martinelli said. Defender William Saliba echoed the sentiment, stating that Arsenal are prepared to give everything in the final stretch to end a 22‑year wait for the league crown. "We’re in the crucial part of the season now," he told Men In Blazers.
"The last few weeks haven’t been great, but we’ve learned from them and now we look forward to Saturday, aiming to change everything." Saliba highlighted the importance of composure and collective effort: "We know what we must do to win the league – we have to start on Saturday. There’s pressure, but that’s what we thrive on. When you lose, it’s disappointing, but we accept it as part of the game. We’ve learned a lot and now believe anything is possible.
We must win every remaining match, stay calm, and give everything on the pitch. The fans, the staff, the whole club must be behind us." In summary, Arteta’s message to his players is clear: take ownership, maintain belief, and execute with precision in the decisive final fixtures. With the title race hanging in the balance, Arsenal aim to translate their renewed confidence and tactical adjustments into the results needed to clinch the Premier League after a 22‑year drought.