With the noise surrounding Arsenal and their history under Arteta when trying to win the title, the Gunners boss was asked if he needs to make sure his side don’t panic and stay focused on their task.
“That’s what we have to do,” he said. “I mean we are ready and prepared to win every game and the only thing we can do is focus on that and raise the level collectively and individually to be better than the opponent every week.
“These are the only things we have to do, that’s the most important thing.”
Before Manchester City’s dramatic win over Liverpool on Sunday, it looked like Arsenal would be nine points clear.
But after Erling Haaland’s late penalty to secure the three points and their win over Fulham on Wednesday, the gap was reduced to three points and the pressure was back on the Gunners.
When asked if playing after City brought a new pressure on his team, Arteta said: “I don’t think so, I think we played well after them a few times this season and we won games.
In 17 games in which Arsenal have scored first in the Premier League this season, the draw at Brentford is the second time they have failed to win, along with their defeat at Manchester United in January.
Midfielder Declan Rice couldn’t have put it better: “It’s been a rollercoaster of a season.
“You can’t be naive to think it’s going to be easy. We’re playing against the best teams week in, week out. We’ve got to keep pushing and believing in ourselves, taking control.
“We have to block out the outside noise. We did very well. People talk about the title race and Arsenal but we have a calm group.”