20 January 2023 , 22:30
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Mikel Arteta is backing Arsenal to become the fastest guns in history in their Emirates fortress on Sunday.
The Gunners will reach 50 points in just 19 games – their fastest-ever half-century – if they beat Manchester United to stay out in front in the title race. And the Arsenal coach warned: “I still think we can play much better.”
Arteta's men are on course to bring the title to north London for the first time in 19 years, since Arsene Wenger's Invincibles of 2004, and they have not lost at home since April. Asked what their winning streak says about their mentality, Arteta replied: “That we have won a lot of games, and hopefully we can carry on that way on Sunday. The best way we can achieve that is to keep playing the way we are or even better."
Arteta believes Arsenal will need more than 90 points to book an open-topped bus, but he warned: “I think it will take a big, big effort to be up there but it’s still too far to talk about that.”
United are the only team to take three points off the Gunners this season, and Arteta says they will be motivated to settle the score.
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He added: “We have to learn. There were some important lessons in that game and why we lost it when, in many moments, we had control of the game.
(Sky Sports)"But we know that’s one of the qualities of United – when you have control of the game the match can get away from you because they have so much individual talent, they have good organisation and they have many ways to create problems.”
Casemiro's suspension, after he picked up a fifth booking this season at Crystal Palace in midweek, could damage United's challenge, but Arteta observed: “He didn’t play in our first game and we didn’t do enough to win that match, either.
“When you look at their squad it’s incredible that they have the collective and individual quality to beat anyone in this league. But we will plan for the game knowing he’s not available, that’s for sure.”