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 their defeat to Manchester City. The Gunners slipped from the summit after City’s 1-0 triumph at Burnley on Wednesday, leaving both clubs level on points with five matches left and the championship still very much up for grabs. Arteta described the final five‑game stretch as "a new league" and highlighted the upcoming Saturday night fixture against Newcastle United at the Emirates as the first test in this fresh chapter. He emphasized that Arsenal are ready to rebound from consecutive setbacks against Bournemouth and City, insisting that confidence, trust and clarity about what the team wants to achieve on the pitch are essential.
"It's important to feel the confidence, the trust and clarity on what we want to deliver on the pitch," he told Sky Sports. "But now is a moment for all of us to take ownership. We can talk all day, but we need to go on that pitch and we need to get the job done." He praised the influence of senior players while also noting the growing importance of younger members of the squad, many of whom have yet to experience a title run‑in.
"We do have a lot of players who stand up and they are very influential. But the young ones as well and the ones who don't have that experience as well, they have a lot of personality as well to play in this moment," Arteta added.
According to the manager, the reaction inside the dressing room after the Etihad loss was exactly the kind of response he wanted. "Immediately, the reaction in the dressing room I really liked because I could sense that they were even more convinced than before the game that we're going to do it," he said.
He explained that the team used the sunny, long week to recharge, refresh and discuss the identity they aspire to embody. The analytical work was kept brief, allowing the focus to shift to the five remaining fixtures and the clarity needed to execute their game plan. Arsenal’s performance against City, despite the loss, earned plaudits for its attacking intent, which appeared to catch the league leaders off‑balance.
Arteta acknowledged that goal difference could become a decisive factor and admitted that selecting the optimal line‑up for the final stretch will be his toughest challenge, especially with Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori nearing fitness. "That's one of the biggest headaches for any manager – to nail the line‑up of how we start and how we're going to finish the game," he explained.
"The game that we expect at the beginning and then how we can change it if the context is different. We have a very different profile of players which is good." He expressed optimism about the return of additional squad members over the weekend, describing it as a "massive boost" for the team. Forward Gabriel Martinelli echoed Arteta’s message, recalling the manager’s words after the Etihad defeat: the players must believe in themselves and recognize that their progress has been earned, not handed to them.
"He said to have full belief in ourselves. He said we didn't get to this point and playing 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 history of the club." Defender William Saliba also stressed the collective determination required to end Arsenal’s 22‑year wait for a league crown. Speaking to Men In Blazers, he described the recent loss to City as undeserved but emphasized that the team has learned valuable lessons and is now focused on the decisive Saturday match. "We are in the big part of the season now," Saliba said. "The last few weeks were not so great for us but we learn from that and now we're looking forward to play on Saturday and changing everything." He added that the squad understands the pressure of high‑stakes games and the necessity of winning every remaining fixture.
"When you lose a game, you're not happy. We know that we didn't deserve to lose the last game.
But it's life. It's like this when you don't kill your opponent. We learned a lot from that game and we know that everything is possible.
We know we have to win every game now if we want to take this Premier League." The players also highlighted the need for calmness, unity and a willingness to give everything on the field. Saliba summed it up: "We need to be calm. We need to die on the pitch as well because it's now.
We have to go. We need everyone – the fans, the team, the staff – to give everything and die on the pitch." With five matches left, Arsenal’s destiny hinges on consistency, tactical flexibility and the mental fortitude to seize the moments that will define the season. The upcoming clash with Newcastle will be the first indicator of whether the Gunners can translate Arteta’s rallying call into tangible results and ultimately secure the long‑awaited Premier League trophy.