Mikel Arteta has declared he will not abandon Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions “over my dead body,” while acknowledging that his team faces an unprecedented challenge to claim the trophy this season.
Arsenal’s title bid took a significant hit last weekend. A surprising home defeat to West Ham, combined with Liverpool’s victory over Manchester City, widened the gap to 11 points behind the league leaders.
When questioned about conceding the title,
Arteta responded with unwavering determination: “Over my dead body.
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“If not, I will go home. Mathematically, it is possible. You are there, you have to play every game. Just three days ago, we could close a gap, and suddenly you’re one-and-a-half games away. It doesn’t matter—we have to keep going.”
Arteta admitted the challenge is now even greater but emphasized the need for something extraordinary.
“The difficulty is higher than three days ago, but if you want to win the Premier League, you have to do something special. With our circumstances, we might need to achieve something that has never been done in Premier League history.”
The defeat to West Ham exposed Arsenal’s lack of attacking options, with Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard, and Ethan Nwaneri the only fit forwards.
While Arteta shared positive updates on injured duo Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, he confirmed they remain some distance from returning to action.
One bright spot for Arsenal was the return of Ben White. The defender made his first appearance since November following knee surgery.
“He gives us something very special, especially in that right unit. We haven’t had him, Bukayo, and Martin [Ødegaard] together this season. It’s great to have him back—his energy, his presence around the team. He’s certainly been missed,” Arteta said.
Looking ahead, Arsenal will attempt to revive their title hopes against Nottingham Forest.
Arteta expressed admiration for Forest’s manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, who has guided the club to an impressive third place this season.
“Unbelievable. Not only with Forest but also with what he achieved at Wolves it was incredible.
Huge credit to him, his coaching staff, and the club. What they’ve built since coming into the Premier League is a remarkable story. Well done to them,” Arteta added.
Arsenal now faces a crucial period, needing not only victories but also a bit of history to keep their title dreams alive.
