'To Win or Not is About Moments' - Mikel Arteta Insists as Arsenal Stay in Title Race After Man City Defeat

Mikel Arteta remains defiant in the Premier League title race, insisting it is "game on" despite Arsenal's recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

With five matches remaining, the Gunners hold a three-point lead over the reigning champions, who have a crucial game in hand. The narrow loss on Sunday, however, has not dampened the manager's spirits, who pointed to his team's strong performance as a source of optimism for the final stretch.

Arsenal created numerous opportunities, particularly in a dominant second-half display, but were unable to convert them into goals.

"It’s a really disappointing result, and the manner that it happened,” Arteta stated post-match. “We had a really strong performance, got so much into the game, we came back from a goal down. Emotionally, we handled the game so well, and had the game where we wanted it."

The manager acknowledged that missed chances were the deciding factor. "We had the best chances of the game, didn't put them away, and that was the difference," he explained.

When asked if the squandered opportunities made the loss tougher to accept or provided hope for the future, Mikel Arteta saw both sides.

"A bit of both, because we created big situations against a team that concedes very little, and we've gone into it the right way," he said.

"But at the end, to win or not win is about moments, and when they had moments, they put them in the back of the net."

Looking ahead, Mikel Arteta framed the final five games as a new challenge. Arsenal's campaign continues next week with a home fixture against Newcastle United, with the title still very much within reach.

"We lost an opportunity today to win," Arteta concluded. "I think we used the opportunity to show what we are made of, and how we're going to compete and the level of the team. Now we have another five to go, so it's a new Premier League now... so, game on."