London, April 20 (NationPress) Arsenal F.C. head coach Mikel Arteta maintained his composure following the 1-2 defeat against title contenders Manchester City F.C. He firmly stated that the Premier League title contest is far from finished, particularly with five matches remaining.

A victory would have positioned Arsenal with a nine-point advantage, granting them greater control over the title chase. However, a second-half strike from Erling Haaland altered the course of the match. Should City win their game in hand against Burnley F.C., they will have the opportunity to overtake Arsenal for the first time since October.

In spite of the disappointment, Arteta refrained from dwelling on the loss and portrayed the match as a fresh launch for the season. “The Premier League is almost starting over. They have a game in hand, we sit three points ahead, and with five games to go, it’s game on,” he remarked post-match.

Arteta acknowledged the players' disappointment but stressed the importance of swiftly moving forward. “Clearly, the players were upset about not securing a result given how it unfolded. That’s the sentiment. They expressed, ‘yes, we missed a chance today, but we have a significant opportunity now in the next five games, so let’s seize it.’”

Despite City’s impressive display, Arsenal’s forthcoming fixtures appear relatively favorable. They will host Newcastle United F.C., Fulham F.C., and Burnley, alongside away matches against West Ham United F.C. and Crystal Palace F.C. Conversely, City faces a challenging slate with games against Everton F.C., AFC Bournemouth, Brentford F.C., and Aston Villa F.C.

Additionally, Arteta mentioned the added pressure of preparing for an upcoming UEFA Champions League semifinal against Atlético Madrid. He conceded that the physical and mental strain is beginning to take effect. Arsenal, who experienced only three losses in their first 49 matches this season, have now endured four defeats in their last six, with their most recent league victory occurring over a month ago.

Nevertheless, the Arsenal manager remains optimistic about the title race holding more surprises. “Let’s see how things unfold. This is the Premier League. First and foremost, winning a match in this league is incredibly challenging,” he stated. “Look at the schedules we both have. It’s going to be difficult for both teams.”

He continued, “Otherwise, we would already have 80 or 85 points as seen in previous seasons, but that’s not the situation. We will prepare for each game, learn from today’s events, and improve. Everything is still up for grabs. We won’t relent, and we will push forward, that’s a guarantee.”

Holding the top position with 70 points from 33 matches, the title race remains tightly contested, setting the stage for an electrifying conclusion to the season.