Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insists the goalless draw against Manchester City at Etihad is a ‘big step’ for his team.
Arsenal lost the top spot in the Premier League after a 0-0 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday. Defending champions Man City is third in the table, a point behind Arsenal in second and three points behind leaders Liverpool, with nine games remaining.
The Gunners lost 4-1 at the Etihad 11 months ago, but they kept two clean sheets against City this season.
“I think the context and the way we arrived here 11 months ago was different, but the difficulty remains the same,” Arsenal boss Arteta said.
“They are the best team in the world, in my opinion, by far. They have the best manager in the world by far. To catch up and try to better than them is the challenge ahead of us…
“I don’t know (if the draw is good for the title race). You want to win the game. You prepare to win it. If you cannot win it, make sure you draw it. We did that.
“Eleven months ago we were here and the story was very different. You have to make steps as a team and today we’ve done that. We still have many more to come…
“(It says) that we are improving and competing better and understand how you have to play these games but there is another step to make to win the championship. You have to come here and win.”
Arsenal ended their eight-game losing streak in all competitions at the Etihad on Sunday. Arteta believes his team made a ‘big step’ against Manchester City despite a goalless draw that leaves them two points behind Liverpool.
He told NBC Sports: “When you don’t win you’re never happy but I think we have made a big step,. We have come across in a very different way (from last season). We have played some parts of the game in an exceptional way and other parts where we can do better especially with a goal. We need composure and patience to play more.
“The commitment of all the players and the discipline in all the defensive parts. We tried to win the ball and won it a lot. We were really patient, not rush, and we defended well. I think it’s 2021 the last time they were (shutout at home). …. You have to have those performances, especially away to get something out of the game here.”
“It’s very difficult because they have so many defending structures. They move players inside the base from different places. We have to maintain the principles to still have the chance to put them under pressure. When you are not, you are low and you have to be disciplined.”
