Mikel Arteta believes the three draws in April against West Ham, Liverpool and Southampton cost Arsenal dearly in the Premier League title race against Manchester City.
The Blues were trailing the Gunners for most of the campaign as Arsenal recorded big results against the likes of Manchester United, Everton and Bournemouth following the turn of the year. However, in the penultimate month of the season, momentum shifted in favour of the champions.
While the North London club stumbled, City pressed on and closed out the month with a 4-1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. This result may have put the title in Pep Guardiola's hands but it was the dropped points in the weeks prior that Arteta attributes to losing their grasp on the title race.
Speaking to Marca, the Spaniard said: "A lot of things [were missing to get over the line]. We were penalised for those three draws we had in a row [Liverpool, West Ham, and Southampton], and all the misfortunes that happened [the two comebacks after Arsenal were two goals ahead].
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"There were three or four injuries to important players and from then on, everything got complicated. When we had the full team we were consistent. As soon as problems came it wasn't enough for us.
"And then our opponent was the best team in the world; the best squad in the world; the best coach in the world. We had to accept that and shake hands with the champions."
Arteta was a member of Guardiola's backroom staff before making the decision to take on the role at the Emirates. The 41-year-old returned to the Etihad last summer to sign Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
When asked why he has favoured signings from the Manchester club, Arteta replied: "Easy: Because they are very good, I know them, and I coached them for four years. Both Gabriel Jesus and Zinchenko won me over from the human side, as well as the mentality and talent they have."
