Gabriel Martinelli insists Arsenal’s fighting spirit can keep their title bid alive.
Manchester City are now top of the Premier League on goal difference after beating Arsenal 3-1 at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
Arsenal have failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions and are on their worst run of form this season.
Individual errors cost Mikel Arteta’s side last night as all three of City’s goals came from Arsenal giving away possession.
Arsenal still have a game in hand on City and Martinelli has called for unity as the Gunners look to bounce back at Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime.
“We know our team; we know our qualities and we are going to stick together,” said Martinelli. “There are still a lot of games to play. We know our strengths and we will bounce back. We are a family, and we are going to fight until the end.
“For sure, it is going to be tough games [at Aston Villa and Leicester]. But we are ready. We know our team and we go for it. We lost the game [against Manchester City], but we are Arsenal. We know how big we are and our qualities. We go to the next game to win and try to beat Villa.”
Arsenal performed well for large parts of Wednesday night’s match and Arteta was in a defiant mood after.
The Spaniard insisted that despite the loss he had more belief than before that his side could win the title.
“I have more belief, because I see a team that is going head to head with them,” he said. “I have more belief in my players. The atmosphere and performance was really good, if you take away that you gave Manchester City three goals.
“But for the rest, I don’t know what else I can demand to the players to match that level. They are the best team in the world and we matched that level.”
Arsenal were at fault for all three of the goals they conceded, with Takehiro Tomiyasu’s loose back-pass allowing Kevin De Bruyne to open the scoring midway through the first-half.
Bukayo Saka levelled the game from the penalty spot, but defender Gabriel then gave the ball away cheaply and Jack Grealish finished off a slick move to restore City’s lead.
Erling Haaland added a third late on when Leandro Trossard was dispossessed in his own half and Martinelli admits Arsenal must cut out the errors if they want to stay in the title race.
“Mistakes are part of the game, and we need to nail it and try to not make them,” he said. “It’s easy to say now when you are here, but when you are on the pitch it is so much harder.
“Of course, in a game like this, the team that makes less mistakes are going to win the game and they won today. We are a team. If one [player] makes a mistake it’s not him, it’s everyone. We are a team.”
Arteta will be concerned by Arsenal’s defensive display last night, but he will also be worried by their blunt attack.
The Gunners managed just one shot on target all night and striker Eddie Nketiah headed two good chances wide. Martinelli endured a difficult night as well against City and he is struggling for form right now, with his last goal coming on New Year’s Eve.
“I think I can improve. I think everyone in the team can improve,” he said. “I always try to rewatch the game and see what my mistakes were and try to improve. It’s not going to be different with this game.
“I am going to rewatch the game and see my mistakes and try to improve for the next game.”
