Mikel Arteta dismisses ‘bottlers’ label during Arsenal’s title challenge difficulties.
Mikel Arteta emphasized that the term “bottlers” is not in his lexicon as he refuted claims that Arsenal are squandering another opportunity to secure the Premier League title.
Arsenal relinquished a two-goal advantage against last-placed Wolves on Wednesday, allowing title contenders Manchester City to gain the upper hand.
If Pep Guardiola’s team secures victories in all their remaining 12 fixtures—including a crucial match against Arsenal at the Etihad in April—they will be declared champions.
– Is it happening again? Arsenal’s stumble in title race follows familiar pattern
Despite the setback at Molineux, Arteta’s team remains five points ahead at the top, although they have played one more match than City.
However, Arsenal, who are set to face Tottenham on Sunday, bear the weight of having finished as runners-up for the last three seasons. Following their 2-2 draw with Wolves, the club is encountering renewed allegations of being “bottlers.”
In response to these accusations, Arteta stated: “That’s individual opinion, and you have to respect that.
“You drop two points against Wolves in the way the match unfolded, and you must accept it. That’s part of our role.
“But it’s not part of my vocabulary, and I don’t perceive it this way because I don’t believe anyone intends to do that. I wouldn’t use that term.”
Arsenal has advanced to the final of next month’s Carabao Cup and is in the knockout stages of the Champions League, having won all eight of their group matches.
They are also strong contenders to reach the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, with a fifth-round match against Mansfield scheduled for March.
However, with only two victories in their last seven league matches, Arteta’s team is under growing scrutiny regarding their performance.
Arteta remarked: “When we haven’t met our standards, I take full responsibility for that. I don’t think I have ever blamed a single player or the team.
“I can discuss standards, yes, and in the second half [against Wolves], we fell short of our standards, which is typical given the number of games we play, but if anyone is accountable, it’s me.
“We have a very clear directive. We must focus on the present, and the present is promising.
“We are precisely where we want to be in every competition. So, staying calm, keeping my eyes and ears open, and understanding what the players need to perform at their best is essential.
“What I’ve observed [from the players] is an impressive response. And I’m not surprised at all.
“What I am particularly interested in is the next chapter, what we are made of, and how we shape our own future from this point onward.”
Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz were both unavailable at Molineux due to injury, but both have a chance of being fit to face Spurs.
“We have to wait until tomorrow, but there is a strong possibility that they will be available,” Arteta added.
