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 to Manchester City. The Gunners slipped from the summit when City edged them out with a 1-0 victory at Burnley on Wednesday, but both clubs remain level on points with five matches left, meaning 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 clash with Newcastle United at the Emirates as the first test of this fresh phase. He believes Arsenal can bounce back after successive setbacks against Bournemouth and City, emphasizing the need for confidence, trust and clarity in what the team intends to achieve on the pitch.
"It's crucial that we feel the confidence, the trust and the clarity about what we want to deliver on the field," he told Sky Sports. "Now is the moment for every player to take ownership.
We can talk all day, but we must step onto the pitch and get the job done." He praised the influence of senior figures in the dressing room while also noting the importance of younger players and those lacking experience, who have shown plenty of personality and a willingness to step up in crucial moments. Arteta was heartened by his players' reaction after the loss at the Etihad Stadium, observing that the squad used the time after the match to recharge and reflect.
He said the immediate response in the locker room was exactly what he wanted to see, with the group appearing even more convinced that they could still claim the title. "The reaction in the dressing room was exactly what I was hoping for because I could sense that they were even more convinced than before the game that we will achieve it," Arteta explained.
He added that the week after the defeat was spent largely outdoors, taking advantage of sunny weather to unwind and refocus on the kind of team they aspire to become. "It was a long week, the sun was shining.
We used it to recharge, refresh... We talked about the team we want to be," he said.
"The analytical part was very short and at the start of the week. Afterwards, we focused on ourselves, on the things we want to see and build again – that connection, that clarity, and the five games left. Newcastle is game one – go for it." Arteta stressed that the club is privileged to be in such a position and that they must now seize the opportunity. Despite the loss, Arsenal received compliments for adopting a more attacking approach against City, a tactic that seemed to catch the league leaders off balance.
Looking ahead, Arteta acknowledged that goal difference could become a decisive factor in the title race, and that selecting the right lineup for the remaining fixtures will be his toughest challenge. He hinted at the potential return of key players Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori from injury, which would provide a significant boost.
"One of the biggest headaches for any manager is nailing the line‑up – how we start and how we finish the game," he said. "The game we expect at the beginning and then how we can change it if the context is different.
We have a very diverse profile of players which is good. Hopefully this weekend we'll have another two or three players back, which is a massive boost for us, and we're looking forward to it." Forward Gabriel Martinelli echoed Arteta's message, recalling the manager's words after the Etihad defeat: the team knows how to reach the summit and end a 22‑year wait for the league crown.
Martinelli emphasized the belief that the squad must have in itself. "He told us to have full belief in ourselves.
He said we didn't get to this point and play good football because of other people; it's because of us," Martinelli said. "It's because of us and what we've been doing all season.
We know how to get there, we want to win the title and put our names in the club's history. In those five games, it's going to be even more important. Everyone believes in themselves inside this football club, so we just have to show it on the pitch and give our best for this badge." Defender William Saliba also voiced confidence, describing the final weeks as the decisive part of the campaign. He admitted the recent loss to City was undeserved but stressed that the team had learned valuable lessons and was ready to give everything in the closing stages.
"We are in the big part of the season now," Saliba told Men In Blazers. "Of course the last few weeks were not great for us, but we learn from that and now we're looking forward to playing on Saturday and changing everything. We know what we have to do if we want to win the league – we have to start on Saturday." He highlighted the pressure that comes with high‑stakes matches and the necessity of staying calm and focused.
"When you lose a game, you're not happy. We know we didn't deserve to lose the last game. But that's life.
It's like when you don't beat your opponent. We learned a lot from that game and we know everything is possible. We have to win every game now if we want to take this Premier League. We need to be calm.
We need to give everything on the pitch because it's now or never. We need everyone – the fans, the team, the staff – to give everything and fight till the end." In summary, Arteta and his players are entering the final stretch with a clear mandate: take ownership, maintain belief, and execute their game plan consistently across the remaining fixtures. With the title race poised on a knife‑edge and the possibility of goal‑difference deciding the winner, Arsenal's resolve, depth and tactical flexibility will be tested. If they can harness the momentum from their recent recharge period and integrate returning players effectively, they stand a strong chance of ending the 22‑year Premier League drought and etching their names into Arsenal's storied history.