Mikel Arteta interview: Arsenal manager believes Gunners deserve to win last two Premier League titles and believes they can catch Liverpool | Football news

Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal side should have two Premier League titles to their name given the standards they have broken in recent seasons – and the fact they are empty-handed, believes the Gunners boss Granted his team can take on Liverpool.

Arteta’s Arsenal have spent the last two seasons at the top of the competition with Manchester City, scoring 84 and 89 points but settling for a second-round medal on both occasions.

This season, City have been out of the picture but Liverpool go into what looks like a crucial week at the top of the Premier League table with a six-point advantage with a game in hand. Arsenal travel to Brighton on Saturday, before Liverpool host Manchester United a day later – both games live Sky Sports.

Asked by Sky Sports’ Asked by Natalie Guedera how to stop the noise that suggests Arsenal are far from the summit this season, Arteta replied: “Winning and performing the way we are today, regardless of what’s happening with the team and focusing on the things we can control. Every day – focus on that.

“Because what can Liverpool do? We were there. Two years ago we had 50 points in the first league and then we couldn’t win the league. It can happen to any team, it’s very difficult.

“We’re only halfway through and already the amount of talk we’ve spent on the title race for weeks and weeks and weeks? It’s meaningless.

“Because there are a lot of games to play and in this league there can be one, two, three (results) and everything changes. We have to be ready.”

Asked what Arteta had learned from the last two seasons, he replied: “That you can always improve and you can always improve. With these numbers, usually you win and we should have two Premier Leagues.

“The reality is that we haven’t, so there’s a lot of motivation, a lot of passion, a lot of desire: Can we look at our team and say we can be better? My answer is in every department. Yes, let’s go for it.”

Arteta: Nwaneri wants to be a main player

Whether Arsenal can sign a striker between now and this January transfer window will be crucial to the Gunners’ hopes of finishing top of the Premier League at the end of May.

The north Londoners’ need for extra strength has been exacerbated by Bokaio Saka’s long-term injury, with his neck injury before Christmas ruling him out for more than two months.

“It’s natural that it happens,” Arteta said of the constant transfer window questions at this time of year.

“There is an opportunity to improve the squad, to bring in players who you believe can make an impact. We are always ready for that.

“But that’s one part. The main part is: How can we get more out of the team, the individuals we have and focus there?”

One figure to take offense in Saka’s absence is Ethan Nwaneri, the 17-year-old becoming Arsenal’s third youngest starter in Premier League history when he started in the 3-1 comeback win over Brentford on New Year’s Day.

The youngster started on Saka’s right and had a big part to play in Arsenal’s third goal – and Arteta believes Nwaneri has the personality to play regularly for his side.

“The main thing is: don’t look at his birthday,” Arteta said. “It’s very important because when you look at his age, there are always limitations. And it’s not fair for the player.

“That’s what we see every day: how he practices and how he prepares, how his teammates look at him and how much confidence he has. And the character he plays, he needs an opportunity. He has and he deserves it.

“Off the field, he’s very humble, very gentle and quiet. On the field? Complete transformation. ‘Give me the ball, I want to be the main player, I want to do things. He’s really brave.’

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