Gunners open ‘ box of dreams’ as title race goes to final day
Arteta relieved to keep pressure on City after nervy victory
ARSENAL opened a “box of dreams” by defeating Manchester United to take the Premier League title race to the final day of the season, according to a relieved Mikel Arteta.
Leandro Trossard’s 20th- minute goal proved enough for victory at Old Trafford but there were several nervy moments for the Gunners in the second half in particular.
The result moved Arsenal back above Manchester City into top spot ahead of their final game at the Emirates against Everton next weekend, but Pep Guardiola’s team have a game in hand.
“I’m really, really happy, obviously,” said Arteta. “Everything is at stake, you have no margin for error since January, you have to keep winning and winning and winning.
“Today we have to play at a really special place that our history wasn’t very optimistic about what could happen, but we found a way to win it and that says a lot about how much the team wants it.
“You know what the consequences are to a draw. I felt the team in a really good space before the game, we started the game well, we scored the goal, but that goal I think it touched something.
“We started to play too safe. I didn’t like it and we had to change that, and when we wanted to change that we struggled to do it. If you don’t have that element, you have to be extraordinary competing and doing the defensive things right, and I thought on that we were excellent again.”
To add extra intrigue, City’s game in hand tomorrow is against Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham, but Arteta will be extremely proud of his players and staff whatever the outcome of the season.
“My experience in this league the last 20 years is that any team can beat any team,” said the Gunners boss. “The honesty and the respect that everybody puts into the games is phenomenal.
“We know we need a result – we need to do our thing still in the last game – but today we really wanted to knock that door and open that box of dreams to live the last day of the season in front of our people with the opportunity to win the Premier League.
“That’s something we’re going to live together and I’m so pleased we’re going to do it with these players and staff. It’s 27 wins in the Premier League, it’s the most in the history of this football club in 130 years. That’s not progress, that’s history.”
Trossard was pleased Arsenal did their job but hopes they can celebrate by winning the league next week.
He told Sky Sports: “We stuck together, defended well and did what we had to do.
“We were looking for the second goal and you know when it doesn’t come it’ll be tough, second half especially with the atmosphere; they are a good team and they can hurt you in many ways so credit to the boys.
“There’s only one objective and that’s to win the league. We have done our job today and now it goes to the last game and that’s what we were aiming for and hopefully next week we can celebrate.”
Kai Havertz set up Trossard’s goal and knows how important the three points were, despite the title- chasers not playing at their best.
“To play here is always tough and we prepared the game very well,” he said. “We didn’t play our best game but we needed the three points and we got that now.
“It feels nice to go in every game and we have to win every game because [ Manchester] City are keeping the pressure on and it’s so nice to be in the race and every week you have to play your best and win games and when you do it, it feels better.
“It’s one game to go and we need everyone next week, the whole club, the fans.”
Injury- hit United’s only victory in their last eight league games came against bottom side Sheffield United, while they went into this contest on the back of last Monday’s 4- 0 hammering by Crystal Palace.
This was at least an improvement and boss Erik ten Hag said: “I don’t like reactions, you have to be always there, you have to be always spot on when you are Man United, but, yeah, if it happens, you need a reaction and the players gave the reaction.”
Asked whether looking at the positives from a home defeat showed how low United have sunk, the Dutchman added: “It shouldn’t be like this, you are absolutely right, but then I return to all the problems we have.
“When you analyse the performance, you have to see then that we were competitive. That is not the way we want of course, United have to win every game, but at this moment as a club we are not in this position, and definitely not this team with all the injuries we have.”
United remain three points behind Newcastle and Chelsea in the race for European football and could need to beat City in the FA Cup final to avoid missing out altogether.
“It’s very damaging but that is the situation we are in,” said Ten Hag. “But still we can get there, we have the opportunities, so we have to take the responsibility. We have to fight, even when the problems are massive.”
It’s 27 wins in the Premier League, it’s the most in the history of this football club in 130 years. That’s not progress, that’s history