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 recent defeat to Manchester City. The Gunners slipped from the top of the table when City secured a 1-0 victory at Burnley on Wednesday, but with both clubs level on points and only five matches left, 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 showdown 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 City, stressing the need for confidence, trust and a clear vision of what the team wants to achieve on the pitch.
"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." The manager praised the character of his players, noting that senior figures are influential but that the younger members and those with less experience also bring personality and determination at this crucial juncture. He was particularly pleased with the dressing‑room reaction after the loss at the Etihad, observing that the squad seemed even more convinced than before the match that they could still claim the title.
"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," Arteta said. He added that the team used the sunny, long week following the defeat to recharge and to discuss the type of side they aspire to become. The analytical session was brief, after which the focus shifted to the collective goals for the remaining fixtures, with Newcastle identified as the first hurdle.
"It was a long week, the sun was shining. We used it to recharge, refresh... We talked about the team that we want to be.
The analytical part was very short and at the start of the week. Afterwards, it was focus on us and the things we want to see and build again; that connection and clarity and the five games left. Newcastle is game one – go for it," he explained. Arteta also reflected on the positive signs shown in the match against City, where Arsenal adopted a more attacking approach that appeared to catch the league leaders off balance.
He acknowledged that goal difference could become a decisive factor in the final standings and admitted that selecting the optimal line‑up will be his toughest challenge in the closing weeks, especially with Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori edging back from injury. "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.
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," Arteta said. He expressed optimism that two or three more players would be available this weekend, providing a massive boost to the squad. Forward Gabriel Martinelli echoed Arteta's message, recalling that after the Etihad loss the manager told the players they "know how to get there" and that they must end the 22‑year wait for a league crown.
Martinelli emphasized the importance of self‑belief, noting that the team's progress this season is a result of their own efforts, not external factors. "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. 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," Martinelli said. He added that the final five games would be even more critical and that everyone at the club must translate their confidence into performance on the field. Defender William Saliba also voiced the determination to give everything in the season's closing stages, describing the recent defeat to City as undeserved but a learning experience. He highlighted the pressure and excitement of high‑stakes matches and stressed that the team must remain calm, fight for every ball, and leave everything on the pitch.
"We are in the big part of the season now. Of course 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.
We know what we have to do if we want to win that league. We have to start on Saturday.
We have good pressure with us because when you play football, you want to play these kinds of games," Saliba told Men In Blazers. He concluded that the loss, while painful, offered valuable lessons and reinforced the belief that anything is possible if the team wins each remaining match. Saliba called for unity among players, staff and supporters, urging everyone to give their all and "die on the pitch" in pursuit of the long‑awaited Premier League trophy.
With the title race hanging in the balance, Arsenal's leadership, both on and off the field, is focused on harnessing confidence, maintaining clarity of purpose, and delivering decisive performances in the final stretch. The upcoming fixtures will test the squad's resolve, but the manager and his players appear determined to seize the moment and bring the championship back to North London after more than two decades.