Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has moved quickly to quash any premature title celebrations within his squad, firmly dismissing the significance of the Gunners’ nine-point lead at the Premier League summit as “nothing.”
The declaration came following his team’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium, a result that solidified Arsenal’s commanding position at a crucial point in the season.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Arteta was unequivocal when asked about the substantial gap. “Nothing,” he stated.
“We still have to win so many games to achieve what we want. So, there’s no focus on that; that’s something else. We’ve done our job now, we’ve had what we have to do, so I assess that, try to improve it and get ready for Brentford”.
This disciplined focus on the immediate fixture list is a hallmark of Arteta’s management, a trait possibly honed during his own playing days as a deep-lying midfielder known more for tactical intelligence than physical speed.
The victory itself was a showcase of Arsenal’s strength and resilience. After a Martin Zubimendi opener, substitute striker Viktor Gyokeres seized the moment, coming off the bench to score a second-half brace and secure the three points.
Arteta reserved special praise for the forward’s mentality, highlighting the character required to wear the Arsenal shirt. “In your journey here, you’re going to have moments where it goes really well and others that are going to be tough,” Arteta said. “But I love his character, the way he approaches every single day and the fact that he’s so focused on the present”.
Arteta’s cautious approach is rooted in recent history and the formidable challenge posed by Manchester City.
Just weeks earlier, Arsenal had missed a key opportunity to establish a nine-point lead when they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest, a reminder of the Premier League’s relentless demands.
Furthermore, the spectre of a chasing City side managed by his mentor, Pep Guardiola, is never far from mind. Guardiola’s teams have historically been capable of reeling in large deficits, and the Catalan manager remains a fiercely competitive figure, recently making headlines for his defiant stance on political issues while insisting his star striker Erling Haaland remains “the best in the world”.
Despite the external excitement, with statistical models dramatically increasing Arsenal’s title probability and fans noting this is the club’s largest lead since the famous “Invincibles” season of 2003-04, Arteta’s message is one of internal calm.
He has previously dismissed the potential for psychological “mind games” from rivals and again emphasized blocking out the noise. His immediate focus is purely on the next training session and the upcoming trip to face Brentford, a team capable of upsetting any title aspirant.
As the Premier League enters its final third, Arsenal finds itself in an enviable but precarious position.
The numerical advantage is tangible, yet for Mikel Arteta, the only thing that matters is the relentless pursuit of improvement, game by game, with the ultimate prize still firmly in the distance.