Arteta on title race, 'outstanding' Rice and Saka's possible return

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Arteta on title race, 'outstanding' Rice and Saka's possible return

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle at the Emirates (kick-off 17:30 BST). Arteta said Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori will "probably" return to the matchday squad after both being ruled out with injury in the 2-1 defeat

Arteta on title race, 'outstanding' Rice and Saka's possible return

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle at the Emirates (kick-off 17:30 BST). Arteta said Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori will "probably" return to the matchday squad after both being ruled out with injury in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City. On the title race, Arteta said his team's energy and belief has "raised" and that the "clarity" in what Arsenal want to achieve "cannot be better".

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle at the Emirates (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Arteta said Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori will "probably" return to the matchday squad after both being ruled out with injury in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.

On the title race, Arteta said his team's energy and belief has "raised" and that the "clarity" in what Arsenal want to achieve "cannot be better".

"Five games to go. Four weeks, two big competitions to play for and everything to play for. If somebody had told us at the beginning of the season we would have taken it - we are so excited," added Arteta.

On the title potentially coming down to goal difference: "We don't know. We are just talking about a lot of possibilities. Then, depending on how the situation is, then you can start to think about something else. You have to put everything into it. Those five games start tomorrow. Everything you have, you have to put it on the table and you have to make it happen."

On winning the title with Rangers in 2003 on goal difference: "I took the penalty and we won the league by one goal difference. It doesn't get better than that. One of the best feelings I had in my career. When you win it, it is even more special."

On Opta's supercomputer predicting the Gunners to have a 65.36% chance of winning the title: "Win tomorrow, game one win and then we'll be much closer. I have belief in our players and our people and the willingness in what we want to achieve."

Arteta said, "It is so clear what is at stake" as the Gunners aim to return to the top of the Premier League if they beat or draw against Newcastle. "The energy has been so good and the weather helps as well."

The Arsenal boss said Declan Rice "has been absolutely outstanding" this season and that the north London side are "blessed" to have him.

On Chelsea sacking Liam Rosenior: "It is always sad to see a colleague leave a club. We know the scrutiny and demands on our jobs. The only thing that matters is if we win a lot of matches."

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