Bukayo Saka admits his Arsenal team-mates were ‘really disappointed’ after the 2-2 draw at Liverpool but says the title race is still ‘in our hands’ ahead of a ‘massive’ showdown with Manchester City.
Arsenal raced into a two-goal lead at Anfield on Sunday thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s toe-poke and Gabriel Jesus’ header.
But Mikel Arteta’s side, who are bidding to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004, had to settle for a point after Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino scored at the end of each half.
It could have been worse for the Gunners who were relieved to see Salah fire wide from the penalty spot and an inspired Aaron Ramsdale deny Darwin Nunez and Ibrahima Konate.
Arsenal have not won a league match at Anfield in more than 10 years and, despite Liverpool’s second-half dominance, Saka admits he was not ‘satisfied’ with the draw.
‘The boys were really disappointed after the game because we all wanted to win,’ Saka told Arsenal’s official website. ‘But we can’t change that so we have to switch the focus to Sunday against West Ham.
‘It’s really important – we all know that – so we’ll try and be ready for the game to give our best and get the three points.
‘I’m not going to sit here and tell you I’m satisfied with a point [against Liverpool]. We wanted to go there and get all three so there’s a bit of frustration inside me that we didn’t do that.
‘It’s a stadium I’ve never won at, so I thought that it would be the best opportunity and timing to do it, but we couldn’t do it which is a shame.’
The entertaining 2-2 draw leaves Arsenal six points ahead of Manchester City with eight games remaining.
Pep Guardiola’s side, who have won four of the past five league titles, will leapfrog Arsenal if they win their game in hand and beat the Gunners at home on April 26.
England star Saka said: ‘As players, we really want to do this. We know that everything is in our hands and we just have to keep going game by game.
‘If we win these last eight games and get some good results, the title can be ours, so we just have to stay focused. It’s a long season and we have to be consistent all the way through, so that’s what we’ll try to do.
‘I wouldn’t say [the Man City game] is the final, but maybe the semi-final because it’s massive, and so important as both teams are fighting at the top. It’s really close so it’ll be a massive game.’
Saka has been one of the stars of the Premier League this season, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists in 30 matches.
The 21-year-old hopes to continue his impressive form for the rest of the campaign and believes he has benefited from playing under ex-Gunners midfielder Arteta.
‘I’ve learnt a lot and I’m progressing in the right way, so I’m happy,’ he added. ‘I just hope at the end of the season those goals and assists will be very important and they’ll mean a lot for the team.
‘[Arteta] has taught me a lot, and I have to thank him for the way I’m developing because a lot of it is because of what he’s doing for me.
‘You have to be ready for everything that comes, and that’s one thing that I have tried to do – be ready for every moment and try to take it.’
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