ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta and striker Gabriel Jesus believe their side are still on course for the Premier League title despite a draw with Southampton at the Emirates Stadium last night.
The Gunners had to come from behind with two late goals to earn a 3-3 draw against the Saints, who are bottom of the table.
The result meant Arsenal are now five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, with the champions having two games in hand.
Arteta praised the character of his players despite the dropped points and said he was relishing the battle with his former boss Pep Guardiola’s City on Wednesday.
“I cannot wait, these are the games you want to play. When everything is at stake you have to go there to win,” Arteta said during his post-match interview.
“It is the beauty of this sport, you want to be in these positions. We will have an incredible trip to Manchester and we will prepare really well.”
Arsenal looked beaten with two minutes left in regulation time last night but Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka struck to earn them a point.
Arteta claimed that the fact his players managed to salvage a point, and almost snatched a winner, spoke volumes for their spirit.
“This young team reacts in a way that is incredible, when it is against the odds but the chances they created and the spirit they had it was a joy to watch,” he added.
“The message is clear, that I love them.”
Former City forward Jesus, who won league titles with the Citizens, believes his current side have the ability to win at the Etihad Stadium.
“Now is the difficult moment. It is time now to stick together until the end,” the Brazil forward said.
“We still have a lot of things to do this season. It’s not over, we are still five points clear.
“Manchester City have two games in hand but if we want to be champions we have to go there to win the game – that is all.”
