Arteta Fires Back with Bold Title Declaration Following Guardiola's Championship Promise

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that securing the Premier League summit at Christmas has strengthened his belief in his team's championship chances.

A penalty from Viktor Gyökeres secured all three points for Arsenal in a tense 1–0 victory against Everton on Saturday, maintaining the Gunners' position at the top, just two points clear of second-placed Manchester City following the last matches before the Christmas break.

This situation isn't new ground for Arsenal, who have topped the table at Christmas in three of the last four campaigns, though Arteta hinted that this year's festive leadership feels somewhat different.

"It provides me with belief and confidence: the standard of performance and the consistency we've shown," Arteta commented.

"Achieving this in the Premier League is extremely challenging, so it demonstrates the team is reliably performing at that level.

"We relish the winning process. There will be tough venues to visit and challenging periods ahead. We've already navigated numerous obstacles and we remain in contention."

The club leading at Christmas has claimed the championship in 17 of the previous 33 seasons. Arsenal, though, represents four of those unsuccessful title campaigns.

Arteta: No Interest in Man City Resurgence

City boss Pep Guardiola has appeared increasingly positive in recent weeks as a run of victories has enabled his team to transform a seven-point gap into merely two points going into the festive period.

Guardiola recently cautioned Arteta that City were "improving" following an admittedly sluggish campaign start. The threatening prospect of the Etihad club closing in on them is familiar to Arsenal, but Arteta emphasized his team's concentration on their own destiny.

"We aren't focusing on [City]," Arteta stated firmly. "I understand you journalists are.

"The sole aspect we can influence is our own displays and outcomes, and we understand the duration ahead and the difficulty of this competition.

"That's all. Embrace each day. Give your maximum effort and discover what we'll achieve."