Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has rejected the notion that his team is prone to bottling the title, ahead of Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Arteta saw his team’s title hopes take a hit after consecutive draws against Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, allowing second-placed Manchester City to close the gap to five points with a game in hand.
Arteta emphasized that his team’s focus is on the present moment, rather than getting bogged down by external criticism. “It’s not part of my vocabulary, and I don’t see it like this because I don’t think anybody wants to do that as an intention,” he said.
Pushing towards our goal. pic.twitter.com/tl6vqNMrZH
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 21, 2026
The Arsenal boss acknowledged that the team needs to take responsibility for their recent stumbles, but is confident they can bounce back stronger. “You lose two points against Wolves in the manner that the game played out, you have to take it on the chin. It’s part of our role,” Arteta said.
Arteta is focused on the next challenge, emphasizing that Arsenal’s destiny is in their own hands. “What I’m very interested in is the next one, what we are made of, what we love about this, and how we write our own destiny from here,” he added
Do Words Win Titles?
No. Arsenal need to show more on the pitch than just dismissing certain talks. While dismissing certain narratives helps to keep the squad motivated, it’s the football that actually wins games and Titles
Arsenal have won just two of their last seven league games, and in a period where their rivals haven’t been exactly good, this is worrying.
A chance to quickly turn the page. pic.twitter.com/eSAlG3OKFI
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 19, 2026
You can’t win the league in February, and Arsenal fans know there is work to do, but with those performances against Brentford and Wolves, you can’t excuse the feeling that the bottling has begun.
Arsenal will need a response when they face Tottenham on Sunday, and it has to be a strong one. Anything less than a win, and if City beat Newcastle, the title race may actually be in jeopardy for the Gunners.
