Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been trying to make sure that his players are not too down after the defeat to Manchester City, as the Gunners prepare for the Premier League game against Aston Villa this weekend, according to journalist Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter in The Independent (1pm, February 17, 2023).
The Gunners went down to Manchester City in the Premier League in midweek.
Arsenal will lock horns with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa this weekend.
City were the better team in midweek, and it was a lesson to the Arsenal fans.
Mikel Arteta’s message to Arsenal players ahead of Aston Villa match
“On Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has spent the last two days trying to ensure his players aren’t too down on the defeat to Manchester City,” wrote Delaney.
“The only message has been to just try and work out what went wrong and only look back on the game in terms of fixing it. It’s all about what next.
“That is having an effect but it can’t completely erode a growing concern at the club ahead of this weekend.
“The feeling in terms of the title is, after three Premier League games without a victory, that it’s ‘win or bust’ on Saturday.
“You could argue it’s completely the wrong game, though. Arsenal face an awkward trip to a well-organised Aston Villa, who are of course managed by Arteta’s predecessor Unai Emery.
“The hope is that this all brings out more in these season’s great revelations. It might just show their inexperience, though. This one is almost as big as the City game.”
Staying positive
In our view, Arsenal should stay positive about their chances of winning the Premier League title this season.
The Gunners should not panic.
Yes, Arsenal are not in good form at the moment, but they should have belief in themselves.
After all, the players have done well so far.
We know that Manchester City have one of the best and strongest teams in Europe.
So, it was always going to be tough for Arsenal to simply run away with the title.
Arsenal should have enough to get the better of Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend.
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