17 February 2023 , 22:30
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Mikel Arteta has installed Arsenal as the people's champions after claiming they are the neutrals' choice to win the title.
The Gunners slipped off the top, for the first time since the starting pistol six months ago, with their 3-1 defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday night. This leaves them chasing City, who face a catalogue of financial doping allegations after winning four Premier League titles in five years.
Arteta has sensed a shift in the public mood, saying: “People have a lot of sympathy for us, our players and the way we have done things.”
The Arsenal boss believes neutral solidarity is rooted in his underdogs giving punters a thrilling run for their money. Arteta's young guns were 33-1 long shots for the title with bookies before a ball was kicked last August.
He said: “I don't think we have ever been favourites, I don't think that has changed. Man City have been the No.1 candidates from day one because they have been in that position for much of the last five years.
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“Before the season, if you had to bet on someone, put some money or your house on somebody, I think a lot of people would have done something different (from backing Arsenal).”
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Eight points dropped from the last nine against Everton, Brentford and City – and one win in five across all competitions – has heaped a different kind of pressure on Arsenal after they led the table for so long.
But they go to Aston Villa – managed by his predecessor at the Emirates, Unai Emery – with Arteta backing his players to cope.
He added: "If you want to be at the top, you have to do it. Looking at what they (the players) did the other day gives me a lot of encouragement to think that they are ready.
"We talked about the position we're in for a few months now, the way the team is playing and the things you have to do to stay there. We know where the level is, we want to be in that level, and there were a lot of positives to take from the City game, that's for sure."
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