Mikel Arteta warns Man City that Arsenal will fight until the death to win the Premier League title but admits relief after dramatic 3-2 victory at Tottenham kept them in top spot

Mikel Arteta has warned Manchester City that Arsenal will fight until the death to win the Premier League title.

The Gunners survived a late scare at Tottenham on Sunday, having taken a 3-0 advantage against their arch-rivals, to maintain their place at the top of the table with a gutsy win.

City remain favourites for the title, which would be their fourth consecutive championship, but asked if his players are willing to fight until the ‘last minute’ to snatch their first top-flight triumph in 20 years, Arteta replied: ‘Yes 100 percent. I’ve seen that the whole season.

‘They give me the reason to believe that every single day. We are right on it.

‘The motivation for what is ahead is beautiful. We are all expecting that they’re going to have a real go.

Bukayo Saka was on target in the league leaders’ nervy 3-2 victory at rivals Tottenham

‘I have so much faith in the players. They give me no reason (to doubt). Emotionally it’s been a very demanding month, but on Saturday I had to stop them in training because they wanted more. That’s a good sign.’

Following a run of three games without victory that saw them crash out of the Champions League and and raise doubts over their title credentials, Arsenal have now recorded three consecutive Premier League wins.

Asked about the secret of their response, Arteta answered: ‘First of all, it’s how much you want it and how much they want it.

‘Don’t feel sorry for yourself. It’s part of the journey. When you’re at the highest level you’re going to have disappointments.

‘At this level the margins are so small and they’re not always going to go for you. Then it’s about how you react to that.

‘Face the challenge, face the opportunity. I think this team has a lot of courage and determination to make it happen.

Arsenal’s win kept them at the top of the table and narrowly ahead of champions City

Arteta has insisted he expects his players to go their title tilt a ‘real go’ in their final matches

Son Heung-min’s late penalty set up a grandstand finish but Arsenal survived to take the win

‘But at the end you can’t just pretend to come here, not suffer and play Spurs off the park. It doesn’t happen.

‘You just have to look at their performances against the other top teams to prove that because they’re a really good side.’

On his team’s nervy end, Arteta added: ‘I was praying. There were so many Spurs players in the box. It was a really emotional game.

‘A very tough place to come, an incredible atmosphere and a great team to play against – 3-0 up you’re in control of the game, you come in the second half and we’re dominating the game and creating chances, then an individual error happens that clicks something.

‘It puts a wrong message in your brain. Then we started to deal with the situation better, but they got another one and then it’s game on.

‘Then they have the players and the courage to put a lot of players forward. We had to dig in and suffer and react. I’m very pleased with the way the team has done it.’