Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal will need near-perfection to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have stormed to an eight-point lead at the top of the table. While acknowledging the difficulty of the task, the Arsenal manager is optimistic, pointing to recent results as evidence that his side is regaining momentum after a challenging spell.
Liverpool’s blistering start to the season, with 10 wins from 12 matches, has left Arsenal and defending champions Manchester City trailing in their wake. Arsenal, who finished as runners-up to City in the past two campaigns, have struggled to keep pace but have found form at a critical time. Their 5-1 Champions League demolition of Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, coupled with a commanding 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend, has injected new energy into the squad.
Arteta is focused on sustaining that momentum as Arsenal prepare for Saturday’s trip to West Ham. Victory could elevate them to second in the table, setting up a weekend where the top two, Liverpool and City, face off in a highly anticipated clash. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta admitted that catching Liverpool would demand an exceptional run from his team.
“If they continue that way, that’s for sure, with the numbers they’re producing and the amount of games they’re winning,” Arteta said when asked if perfection was required to challenge Liverpool. “But the focus is on us, maintaining the consistency, especially in performances, that will give us the right to win a lot of games… this is a long run.”
Arsenal’s recent resurgence has coincided with the return of captain Martin Ødegaard, who had been sidelined for two months with an ankle injury. Arteta praised the Norwegian’s immediate impact, describing him as “exceptional” and integral to the team’s success. “Good players that are so consistent and so reliable, that can take the game to a different level and make the players better around them—that’s a huge quality of Martin’s and he has been missed,” said Arteta.
Despite Arsenal’s upswing, Arteta emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards in every match, particularly given the competitive nature of the Premier League. “Winning lifts the energy and our confidence,” he said. “Now it’s about consistency, getting that momentum, taking it further against a good opponent tomorrow, and trying to replicate the performance to win the game.”
With fixtures coming thick and fast, Arteta stressed that his team must focus on sustaining high-level performances rather than dwelling on past successes. “It doesn’t matter what you did yesterday, it’s about the next days, the next performance,” he added. “Are you able to sustain high-level performance throughout the game because of how competitive every opponent is right now? That’s what we will try to do tomorrow.”
As Arsenal look to climb the table, Saturday’s match offers an opportunity to build on their recent form and reinforce their title credentials. While Liverpool may seem uncatchable for now, Arteta’s focus on consistency and momentum suggests the Gunners are prepared to fight for every point as the season unfolds.
