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 to Manchester City. Arsenal slipped from the top of the table after City’s 1-0 win at Burnley on Wednesday, leaving both clubs level on points with five matches remaining.
The championship is still very much up for grabs, and Arteta believes his side can turn the tide. The manager described the final five‑game stretch as "a new league" and highlighted the upcoming Saturday night clash with Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, as the first test of this fresh chapter.
He insisted that Arsenal are ready to bounce back after back‑to‑back losses to Bournemouth and City, emphasizing the need for confidence, trust and clarity in what the team wants to achieve on the pitch. "It’s crucial that we feel confident, that we trust each other and that we have a clear idea of what we need to deliver on the field," Arteta told Sky Sports. "Now is the moment for every player to take ownership.
We can talk all day, but the real work happens on the pitch, and we have to get the job done." He praised the influence of senior players while also noting that younger members of the squad, even those lacking extensive experience, have shown significant personality and a willingness to step up in critical moments. The manager was encouraged by the way his players responded to the loss at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, saying they used the time afterward to recharge both mentally and physically.
"The immediate reaction in the dressing room was exactly what I wanted to see," Arteta explained. "You could sense that they were even more convinced than before the game that we can still achieve our goal.
It was a long week, the sun was shining, and we used that to refresh ourselves and talk about the type of team we want to become." He added that the analytical portion of their preparation was brief and took place early in the week. The focus then shifted to reinforcing the team's core values, building clarity, and preparing for the five crucial fixtures ahead.
"Newcastle is game one – we go for it," he said. "We are privileged to be in this position, we respect it, and now we must seize it." Despite the loss, Arsenal received praise for adopting a more attacking approach against Manchester City, a strategy that seemed to catch the newly crowned league leaders off guard. Arteta acknowledged that goal difference could become a decisive factor in the title race and admitted that selecting the right lineup for the remaining matches will be his biggest challenge, especially with key players Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori on the brink of returning from injury. "One of the biggest headaches for any manager is getting the line‑up right – how we start, how we finish, and how we adapt if the context changes," Arteta said.
"We have a very diverse group of players, which is a strength. Hopefully this weekend we’ll have another two or three players back, which would be a massive boost for us." Forward Gabriel Martinelli echoed Arteta’s message in a pre‑match interview with Sky Sports. He recounted that the manager told the squad they "know how to get there" and urged them to believe fully in themselves, stressing that the team's progress has been driven by the players themselves, not external factors.
"He told us to have complete belief in ourselves. We didn’t get to this point by luck or by anyone else – it’s because of us," Martinelli said. "We know how to reach the summit, we want to win the title and etch our names into the club’s history. In these final five games, we have to be even more determined.
Everyone in this club believes in themselves, and we just need to show that belief on the pitch and give our all for the badge." Defender William Saliba also spoke about the team's resolve, describing the recent defeat to City as undeserved but using it as a learning experience. He emphasized that the team must stay calm, give everything they have, and fight with intensity in the closing weeks. "We are now in the crucial part of the season," Saliba told Men In Blazers. "The last few weeks haven’t been great, but we’ve learned from them and we’re looking forward to Saturday to turn things around.
We know exactly what we need to do to win the league – we have to start strong on Saturday and maintain pressure in every game." He added, "When you lose a match you’re not happy, but it’s part of life. We learned a lot from that game and now we understand that anything is possible if we win every remaining match. We must stay composed, give everything on the pitch, and rely on the fans, the staff, and each other." As the season draws to its climax, Arsenal’s leadership team is focused on maintaining a clear vision, reinforcing confidence, and ensuring that every player feels accountable for the collective goal.
The upcoming fixtures will test the squad’s depth, tactical flexibility, and mental resilience. If they can harness the momentum from their recent recharge, keep key players fit, and execute Arteta’s game plan with precision, they stand a strong chance of clinching the Premier League title and ending a 22‑year wait for the trophy.