Mikel Arteta warned Manchester City that his Arsenal team remain in a “great place” despite Saturday’s draw with Brentford.
For the second game in a row, the Gunners dropped points as Ivan Toney’s header cancelled out Leandro Trossard’s first goal for the club.
Defeat at Everton last weekend prevented Arteta’s side from opening up an eight-point gap on the champions, who roll into town for a mouth-watering clash at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
Arsenal head into their biggest game of the season on their worst run of the campaign thus far, with City having beaten them in the FA Cup third-round last month.
Arteta fires warning at Man City with Arsenal in a ‘great place’ ahead of showdown | British Bulletin
Still, Arteta is backing his side to come good and believes the reaction his players showed when dropping points stands them in good stead for the ultimate test.
“You have to be at your best but against Brentford, it’s exactly the same,” he said.
“It’s not an issue the way the boys tried, and I look at their body language, their intentions and how much they want it, and the reaction when they drop two points, the way they dropped them. They are in a great place.”