Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has remained adamant that it is still early in the season to talk about title chances after his team's 1-0 loss to Newcastle on Saturday.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged calm after Arsenal's title hopes took a hit with a narrow loss to Newcastle on Saturday at St. James Park.
A solitary goal from Alexander Isak claimed all three points for the Magpies, sinking Arteta's charges.
The defeat marked the Gunners' second league loss, following their 2-0 slip-up against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium on October 19.
The setback now leaves Arsenal five points behind defending champions Manchester City and seven points adrift of Liverpool at the summit.
Despite the pressure, Arteta remains optimistic, emphasizing that it’s still early in the season.
"After eight, nine or 10 games last year we didn’t talk about it and we won’t talk about it now," he stated via Hayster TV.
"It’s about how you react to that. We’re not going to find the right words or answers to describe how we feel. We have to put it on that field on Wednesday night against Inter."
Rather than focusing solely on the title, Arteta highlighted the importance of consistency.
"It’s not about the hope of winning the title. It’s about being our best selves every single week. Today we weren’t our best version," he noted.
Reflecting on the Newcastle game, Arteta acknowledged Arsenal’s loss of momentum after conceding the opening goal.
"When we fell behind, we lacked threat and more capacity to go and hurt them," he explained.
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"We weren’t consistent enough, and when we gave the ball away, we were in transition and allowed them to run or sustain attacks. I think we gave 17 or 18 free-kicks, which stops the game constantly, and that was not a good outcome for us."
Arteta now shifts focus to getting Arsenal back on track as they prepare to face Inter on Wednesday in Champions League midweek action.