Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta issues 12-word verdict as Liverpool close in on title

Arsenal have collapsed in the title race and now it’s only a matter of time before Liverpool are crowned champions – but Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is keen to make sure the Reds’ coronation is delayed

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insisted the team were keen to ensure Liverpool are made to wait another day for their title celebrations ahead of their trip to Ipswich. The Gunners know that Liverpool will become champions this weekend if they beat Leicester on and Arsenal lose to the Tractor Boys on Sunday.

Arteta’s men have been the only challengers to Liverpool in the title race this season but have struggled to keep pace after falling 13 points behind Arne Slot’s side.

Arsenal will now putting all their focus on the Champions League after their famous quarter-final victory over Real Madrid to reach the semi-finals, but that doesn’t mean they won’t continue putting up a fight in the Premier League.

A 1-1 draw at home to Brentford last week allowed Liverpool to pull further ahead but Arteta is keen to keep the Reds waiting for their crown as long as possible.

When asked about the possibility of Liverpool becoming champions this weekend, he replied: “We’ll make sure that we win the game and that doesn’t happen.”

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Arteta stressed the importance of not allowing the team to get too carried away in their celebrations after the Real Madrid result as they switch their attentions to Ipswich.

“For a short period of time yes, it was a great evening,” he said. “We had a lot of family and a lot of happy faces around the club, so it was a good moment, but immediately you have to switch it up and now it’s Ipswich in the Premier League.

“We can compete in any context against any team in any competition. Now the next step is consistency, do it in the Champions League at that level. Now we come, go to Ipswich against a really tough team and do it again.”

There is also a chance Ipswich could be relegated this weekend should they lose and results go against them – so there’s plenty at stake for both teams.

Arteta may be keen to rotate his side for this game after their taxing trip to Madrid and in light of a handful of injury concerns as he prepares for the semi-final against PSG on April 29.

Jorginho has been ruled out of this game along with Ricardo Calafiori, while Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are all out for the season. Arteta said there was a chance Jorginho could return for the PSG game but remained coy on his condition.

“That’s probably a question for the doctor,” he said on Jorginho. “It’s quite a specific and difficult matter. So I will leave that to the club to make an analysis.

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