Arteta: ‘We are not the Invincibles‘

It‘s finally happening. Arsenal fans are starting to dream that this could finally be THAT year when they will finally win the Premier League title for the first time since the 2003/04 season. Sure, they hoped for this outcome two years in a row, only to see Manchester City moving ahead near May. But after last night‘s results of their direct opponents, the Gunners are expecting current champion Liverpool with five points more and a game in hand. And the fans who are looking at the history books are already thrilled. The Gunners have 48 points and scored 40 goals after 20 league matches, which is more than the 46 points and 36 goals the 2004 Invincibles side had at the same stage.

But Mikel Arteta still wants to shut down the noise and wants his players to be concentrated until May. So when he was asked about this statistical data and similarities with the Invincibles, he replied:

“No it doesn't mean we are better, because the Invincibles won a lot, and they won consistently and created a history and a legacy. We have to do that. Obviously, there are a lot of stats, but in the last two or three years, as well, we've had stats and more points and more goals in history. At the end we have to translate that to major trophies and that's what we want to do. Probably now what we are doing would have been enough in previous seasons, but now it's not enough and we have to make the margins even bigger. That's what we have to do“.

Arteta: ‘Let’s break this’

On the other side, Premier League winner Arne Slot if facing totally different type of questions. Liverpool are underperforming (to put it mildly) and have 14 points less than the Gunners. But Dominik Szoboszlai is full of confidence.

"It's a long way to go. The Premier League is not easy. You don't win it by January. So I don't think we are playing against the champions. They're playing against the champions. And that's probably (something) they know as well, we know as well. Of course they are one of the favourites for this year - unbelievable team, really good players. But we shouldn't also forget about Man City, about Villa, who are doing very good. No, we don't play against the champions. They play against the champions" said the Hungarian.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 21

Tuesday

West Ham - Nottingham Forest 1-2 (1-0)

/Murillo 13 og - Dominguez 55, Gibbs-White 89 pen/

Wednesday

Bournemouth - Tottenham 3-2 (2-1)

/Evanilson 22, Kroupi 36, Semenyo 90+5 - Tel 5, Palhinha 78/

Brentford - Sunderland 3-0 (1-0)

/Thiago 30, 65, Yarmolyuk 73/

Crystal Palace - Aston Villa 0-0

Everton - Wolverhampton 1-1 (1-0)

/Keane 17 - Mane 69/

Fulham - Chelsea 2-1 (0-0)

/Jimenez 55, Wilson 81 - Delap 72

Man. City - Brighton 1-1 (1-0)

/Haaland 41 pen - Mitoma 60/

Burnley - Man. United 2-2 (1-0)

/Heaven 13 og, Anthony 66 - Sesko 50, 60/

Newcastle - Leeds 4-3 (1-2)

/Barnes 36, 90+12, Joelinton 54, Guimaraes 90+1 pen - Aaronson 32, 79, Calvert-Lewin 45+5 pen/

Thursday

23.00: (1.63) Arsenal (4.20) Liverpool (5.30)

***odds are subject to change***