FLYING HIGH!
Nketiah strikes at the death to keep Arsenal five clear
Mikel Arteta revealed belief is growing at Arsenal that they can keep up their title charge after eddie Nketiah’s last-gasp strike secured a dramatic win over Manchester United.
euphoria spread around the emirates at the final whistle as erik ten Hag’s improving United side were defeated to keep Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City, who had beaten Wolves 3-0 earlier yesterday.
Boss Arteta said of Nketiah’s goal: ‘i don’t think it gets much better than that. it was a beautiful moment, a really special one, because we were pushing and pushing and pushing. i hope the
players believe, not that they are (already) champions, but that they are good enough to play against these teams and that they have done it.
‘We talked about that in the last two days. We know our reality, we know how much we have to improve. We know what’s taken us to the position that we are in today and we have to reinforce that every day.’
Asked what yesterday’s victory over fourth-placed United would give to the team, Arteta said: ‘Belief and confidence that we are going in the right direction. That the way we’re playing is going to reward them. It’s just pure spirit, pure belief and testament to what we do. That’s what we have to continue.’
Arteta insisted, however, that champions City remain the title favourites because of their incredible Premier League record over recent seasons.
The 40-year- old, formerly assistant to City manager Pep Guardiola, said: ‘I know my team so well. I know where we are, I know why we are here and I know where we want to be — and we are far from that.
‘I know the levels of the other teams and one especially (City) that have won in the last five or six years, and we are not there yet.’
United boss Ten Hag rued his team’s failure to keep out Arsenal, saying: ‘Maybe in the next couple of hours, we will realise we are in a good position, realise we are in a good development and a good process.
‘But in this moment I am annoyed and I told the players, “If you want to win trophies, you have to change your mentality, because it’s not possible that you are in a top game, making three such big mistakes where you concede”.’
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