Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will ‘keep fighting until the end’

Despite dropping six points in their last three Premier League games, Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will not give up on the title until the end.

Although it was hectic and emotional, most people left Emirates Stadium on Friday night believing that Arsenal had given Manchester City the advantage in the Premier League title race.

Arteta’s side came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 against relegation-threatened Southampton, making it their third straight game without a win after stalemates against Liverpool and West Ham United.

City are now behind Mikel Arteta’s team by five points, although they still have two games remaining. They play the Gunners on Wednesday knowing that if they win all of their remaining games, they would retain the title. However, Arsenal can also claim that.

However, following a match in which they had to fight for a point against the bottom-placed team, Arsenal’s new title race anxiety had no effect on the players or the management.

“I cannot wait,” Arteta said when quizzed about the trip to face City. “These are the games you want to play. When everything is at stake you have to go there to win.

“This young team reacts in a way that is incredible, when it is against the odds, but the chances they created and the spirit they had… it was a joy to watch. The message is clear that I love them.

“We are down and they are more willing than anybody to win it. You can see that spirit and fight in the dressing room but it is clear we have to do defensively things better.”

Man City are not in league action this weekend as they play Sheffield United in the semi-final of the FA Cup.