Mikel Arteta finally responds to question that saw him storm out of Sky Sports interview

Arsenal’s draw with Manchester United on Sunday left them 15 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, and Mikel Arteta wasn’t happy with some of the post match questioning

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are focused on “fighting to win every game” despite their Premier League dream appearing all but over.

The Gunners trail leaders Liverpool by 15 points after their 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday extended their winless league run to three matches. Arteta was asked about his side’s title hopes and whether their challenge was over during a post-match interview with Sky Sports and stormed out.

Arsenal, who have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after their dominant 7-1 first-leg away win over PSV Eindhoven last week, host the Dutch side at the Emirates in Wednesday’s reverse fixture. With hopes of a first league title since 2004 slipping away, the north London club’s best chance of securing silverware appears to be in European competition as they are also out of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.

“We are going to carry on fighting to win every game,” said Spanish coach Arteta. “There are the demands we put on ourselves in every competition, we are very much conscious that the demands for this football club are to reach the highest level and to win football matches.

“There’s always improvement, we have talked about what we can do better, it’s about execution. My job is to give the players as many tools so we can deliver again.”

Despite key injuries to Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, Arsenal had six different scorers in their crushing victory over PSV. The club, who have never won the Champions League, will face the winner of Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the next round should they advance on Wednesday.

“It is unique but we understand the game went in the right direction for us from the beginning,” Arteta said. “We need to earn the right for the match to go in the same direction, we are fully focused for that.

“It’s a competition that we have a lot of enthusiasm for. We have been very consistent and tomorrow can put us in exciting position.”

William Saliba has been instrumental in Arsenal having the best defensive record in the league this season. The France international is keen to help guide his side to their first trophy since Arsenal’s 2020 FA Cup triumph over Chelsea.

“I think we are very close, we need to keep going,” Saliba said about Arsenal’s trophy ambitions.

“We can’t stop working. When you’re close and don’t win trophies it’s sad, with work we will make a big step and I am sure we will arrive there. Everyone wants to win the Champions League, it’s a competition that’s hard to win, anything can happen.”

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