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 reflection following their recent defeat to Manchester City. The Gunners slipped from the top of the table after City’s 1-0 victory 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 showdown with Newcastle at the Emirates, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, as the first test of this fresh phase.
He insisted that Arsenal are ready to bounce back after consecutive setbacks against Bournemouth and City, stressing the importance of confidence, trust and clarity about what the team wants to achieve on the pitch. "Now is the moment for every player to take ownership," Arteta told Sky Sports.
"We can talk all day, but the real work happens on the field – we have to go out there and get the job done." He praised the influence of senior figures in the dressing room while also noting that younger members and those with less experience have shown plenty of personality and are prepared to step up when it matters most. The manager said he was encouraged by the way his players responded after the loss at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
He felt the squad used the time that followed to recharge, reflect and reaffirm their collective ambition. "The immediate reaction in the dressing room was exactly what I wanted to see," Arteta explained. "You could sense that the players were even more convinced than before the game that we can still achieve our goal." He added that the week after the defeat was spent largely outdoors, taking advantage of sunny weather to unwind and reset mentally. "We talked about the kind of team we want to become.
The analytical part was brief – we focused on the fundamentals, on the things we need to rebuild, and on the clarity we need for the remaining five fixtures. Newcastle is game one – we go for it." Arteta acknowledged the privilege of being in such a strong position and urged his side to seize the opportunity.
Despite the loss, he praised Arsenal’s more attacking approach against City, which appeared to catch the league leaders off‑balance. Looking ahead, Arteta admitted that goal difference could become a decisive factor and that his biggest challenge in the closing weeks will be selecting the optimal line‑up, especially with key players like Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori edging back from injury. "Choosing the starting XI and managing the game as it unfolds is one of the biggest headaches for any manager," he said.
"We have a diverse group of players, which is a strength. Hopefully we’ll have two or three more fit players this weekend – that would be a massive boost." Forward Gabriel Martinelli shared Arteta’s message with the squad after the Etihad defeat, emphasizing belief in themselves and the desire to end Arsenal’s 22‑year title drought. "He told us to have full belief in ourselves.
We didn’t get this far because of anyone else – it’s because of us and what we’ve done all season. We know how to get there, we want to win the title and make history for the club," Martinelli said. He added that the final five games will be even more crucial and that every player must demonstrate confidence on the pitch and give their utmost for the badge.
Defender William Saliba echoed the same sentiment, saying the team is prepared to give everything in the season’s closing stages after what he described as an undeserved loss to City. "We are in the crucial part of the season now. The last few weeks weren’t great, but we learned from them and are looking forward to Saturday to change everything," Saliba told Men In Blazers. He stressed the importance of pressure and focus: "We know what we have to do to win the league.
When you play these big games you feel the pressure, but you also love it. Losing a match is painful, especially when you feel you didn’t deserve it, but that’s life.
We learned a lot and now we know everything is possible if we win each remaining game." Saliba called for calmness and determination, urging the squad to give their all and "die on the pitch" – a metaphor for leaving everything on the field – while also acknowledging the role of fans, staff and the entire club community in the push for the title. In summary, Arteta’s message to Arsenal is clear: take responsibility, maintain belief, and execute flawlessly over the next five fixtures. With the title race still neck‑and‑neck with Manchester City, the Gunners must combine tactical flexibility, squad depth and unwavering confidence to clinch the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2004. The upcoming matches, starting with Newcastle, will test their resolve, but the manager and his players appear ready to meet the challenge head‑on.