Mikel Arteta apologised after Arsenal suffered defeat against Nottingham Forest - a result which handed the Premier League title to Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side celebrated the full-time whistle at the City Ground as they watched the Gunners lose 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.
City head into their Premier League clash against Chelsea this afternoon after being crowned champions for a fifth time in six years - winning the title for a third consecutive season. Only Liverpool have been able to beat Guardiola's side to the title in recent years with the Manchester outfit now looking to complete a historic treble with an FA Cup final and Champions League final still to come.
Arsenal held an eight-point lead at the top of the table heading into the season run-in, but dropped points against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton before a defeat to City gave Guardiola's side the advantage. The Gunners will now finish second in the table this term but there remains plenty of positives for Arteta and his players to take into next season.
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Taiwo Awoniyi's goal proved to be the difference yesterday as Arsenal suffered a second consecutive defeat in the Premier League following their 3-0 defeat to Brighton last week. Arteta admitted as much in his post-match interview with Sky Sports but remained classy by congratulating his formal club on securing a third consecutive title and taking responsibility for such a disappointing display.
"First of all congratulations to City for winning the championship and it is a really sad day for us after everything we have done in the season," the Spaniard said. "Now we have to face the reality and we gave a goal away, a huge chance away that we gave them, and couldn’t break them down.
"We could have been here three hours and still, we didn’t have enough to do that, so we have to face it, it is my responsibility and I have to take it," he added. Despite the result being the final nail in the coffin for Arsenal's title hopes this season, Arteta still showed his class after the game against Forest.
The Gunners boss was spotted signing autographs for rival fans outside the City Ground after the defeat to Steve Cooper's side. The future is promising at the Emirates Stadium and a busy summer transfer window awaits as Arsenal look to bolster the squad and challenge for the title again next season.
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