Arsenal’s Arteta overcomes the gap to Manchester City: ‘We are alive’

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta played down a five-point gap to Premier League leaders Manchester City as he keeps his team in title contention after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with his 50th league goal nine minutes before Virgin van Dijk’s 18th-minute header equalized for the visitors. Mikel Merino Declan Rice’s header in the box restored the Gunners’ lead just before the break, but Mohamed Salah’s 81st-minute equalizer gave Liverpool a point at the end of a second half they largely dominated.

Liverpool remain in second place, four points behind Arsenal in third, while City complete the weekend’s lead as they chase a fifth title in a row.

Asked how significant the points difference was at this early stage of the season, Arteta replied: “You don’t want to be in that position. You want to be five points ahead, but that’s where we are. The team is alive.” The team wants this. I feel it every day. Players who can’t play get upset about not playing.

“Those who are injured, those who are there, are having a good moment. Everything will change and we will be in a better place. But we are definitely there.”

“I see the team and I have no doubts. I think I told you three days ago that we were going to fly on Sunday, and we started flying and were a much better team.”

“We needed to score points today to reflect where we are and where we want to be. We weren’t able to do it, but we’re confident we’re there.”

Arsenal sat deep for long periods in the second half as Liverpool tried to equalize. Arteta said the defender Gabriel Magalhães “couldn’t run” and was forced off with a left leg injury in the 54th minute, which may have contributed to a more cautious performance given the Gunners were already without a suspended centre-back. William Saliba.

“There should have been a bigger score in the first half, they opened the scoring in the second half and we didn’t have the courage,” Arteta added. “We were clear about what we needed to do and the execution, determination and aggression with and without the ball was really good. (There were) several moments when we should have put the ball in the net.”

“In the first stage we needed more courage to play. We have created great opportunities.”