03 May 2023 , 08:43
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Mikel Arteta saw Arsenal return to the top of the Premier League - and then admitted their title dream would have been over if they had not won.
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard scored twice as Arsenal bounced back from their bad run of four games without a win to pile more misery on Chelsea. Of course, Manchester City can reclaim top spot by beating West Ham on Wednesday night but the Arsenal boss insisted his players showed they are still ready to fight until the end.
Arsenal boss Arteta said: “If we wanted to have any chance to win this league we had to win today. We want to be back on top and our job was back today. The players still believe for sure, we discussed that. There are still four games to go. We cannot drop our heads now.
"To be in the position we are in after 10 months, I am not going to allow anybody not to talk about it and feel it.” Arteta also praised Odegaard and said: “He has 14 goals this season, his contribution to the team, his leadership skills, I'm really pleased with him.”
Frank Lampard meanwhile, suffered his sixth straight defeat since taking over as interim Chelsea boss and was scathing about his players’ first half display. Lampard said: "Not good enough first half, that's what confirms the result. Much better second half, but not good enough first half.
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Mikel Arteta celebrates as his team take a 2-0 lead over Chelsea (Getty Images)"We were too nice to play against in all aspects in the first half. In the second half we played much more like a team that has a threat up top. In the first half we were too easy to play against. It's tough because you want to win games, but it's our job, we'll work on it."
Chelsea veteran Cesar Azpilicueta said: "It's the worst run since I've been at the club. We're the ones playing on the pitch and we have to turn this around. It's hard for everybody and we have to come through these moments. Off the pitch we have a lot of things to work on.”