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 their defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Arsenal slipped from the summit of the table after City’s 1-0 victory at Burnley on Wednesday, but with both clubs now level on points and only five matches left, the championship is still very much up for grabs. Arteta described the final stretch as a "new league" and highlighted the upcoming Saturday night clash with Newcastle at the Emirates as the first test of this fresh phase, which will be televised live on Sky Sports.
He stressed that the Gunners are prepared to rebound from consecutive setbacks suffered against Bournemouth and City. "It’s essential that we feel confidence, trust and crystal‑clear 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 have to deliver." He praised the influence of senior figures in the dressing room while also noting the growing importance of younger players who may lack experience but possess the personality and determination needed for this crucial moment. Arteta was heartened by the way his team responded after the loss at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
He said the players used the intervening days to recharge, reflect and reaffirm their collective goals. "The immediate reaction in the locker room was exactly what I wanted to see – a stronger belief than before the match that we can still achieve our objective," he explained.
He described the week as a blend of recuperation and strategic focus: "It was a sunny week, which gave us the chance to refresh ourselves. We talked about the kind of side we want to become.
The analytical discussion was brief and took place early in the week; the remainder was spent concentrating on the fundamentals we need to rebuild – the connection, the clarity, and the five games ahead. Newcastle is game one – we go for it." Arteta added that the club feels privileged to be in this position and that the responsibility now lies in capitalising on it. Despite the loss, Arsenal received compliments for adopting a more attacking approach against City, a tactic that seemed to surprise the newly crowned league leaders. Looking ahead, Arteta acknowledged that goal difference could become a decisive factor and that squad selection will be his toughest challenge in the final weeks.
He highlighted the expected returns of Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori from injury as potential game‑changing boosts. "One of the biggest headaches for any manager at this stage is getting the line‑up right – how we start, how we finish, and how we adapt if the match evolves differently than expected," he said. "We have a diverse player profile, which is a strength.
If we can have two or three more players back this weekend, it will be a massive lift for us." Forward Gabriel Martinelli relayed Arteta’s message to the squad after the Etihad defeat, emphasizing the belief that the team knows how to reach the summit and end a 22‑year Premier League drought. "He told us to have full belief in ourselves.
He reminded us that we didn’t get here because of anyone else – it’s because of us, 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 these last five games, the pressure is even greater. Everyone in this club believes in themselves; we just have to show it on the pitch and give our best for the badge," Martinelli said. Defender William Saliba echoed the sentiment, declaring that Arsenal are ready to give everything in the closing weeks to finally break the 22‑year wait for a league crown after what he called an "undeserved" loss to City. "We are now in the crucial part of the season.
The last few weeks haven’t been ideal, but we’ve learned from them and we’re looking forward to Saturday to turn things around. We know exactly what we must do to win the league – we have to start strong on Saturday.
The pressure is intense because these are the games you live for." Saliba continued, "When you lose, it hurts, and we felt that the defeat was unfair. But that’s football – you can’t always get the result you want. We learned a lot from that match and now we understand that everything is possible if we win each remaining game.
We need to stay calm, give everything on the pitch, and fight until the final whistle. The fans, the staff, the whole club must be united. We have to die for the badge, give everything, and leave nothing behind." In summary, Arteta’s message to his players is clear: take responsibility, trust in the collective, and execute with precision in the remaining fixtures. With the title race balanced on a knife‑edge, Arsenal’s ability to harness confidence, manage squad depth, and maintain an attacking mindset will determine whether they can finally lift the Premier League trophy after more than two decades.