Mikel Arteta says Arsenal remain in a strong position after a goalless draw with Liverpool ended their winning run during the festive period.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted his side are still in a “strong position” despite dropping points for the first time in over a month following a 0–0 draw with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. The stalemate brought an end to Arsenal’s five-game Premier League winning streak.
The Gunners had gone into the match full of confidence, buoyed by consecutive league victories and Manchester City’s inconsistent form, which had helped open up a six-point gap at the top of the table. While the result against Liverpool felt like a missed opportunity, Arteta was keen to focus on the broader picture and the resilience his squad showed during a challenging run of fixtures.
“Every time you don’t win it feels like an opportunity lost,” Arteta admitted after the match. “But I have to really praise the team for what they’ve done during this Christmas period. With all the issues we’ve had, the boys deserve a lot of credit.”
The Arsenal boss emphasized that navigating the festive congestion without suffering significant damage to their title push was an achievement in itself.
“We are in a really strong position and we have to go again,” Arteta added, underlining his belief that the draw would not derail their ambitions.
For Liverpool, the result maintained a curious trend against Arsenal this season. The defending champions have now kept clean sheets in both league meetings, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick proving decisive in their earlier clash at Anfield. Despite that defensive solidity, Liverpool remain 14 points behind Arsenal and face an uphill task in the title race.
Arne Slot’s side extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches, but five draws during that stretch have left them fourth in the standings. Slot was encouraged by Liverpool’s control of possession, particularly in the second half, but admitted frustration at their recurring struggles in the final third.
“From all that possession, you expect to create more chances,” Slot said. “This is who we are. We can dominate the ball, but we’re still not at the level of some teams when it comes to set pieces and finding the right pass in the final third.”
