Mikel Arteta plays down Arsenal’s title battle with Man City and Liverpool – insisting it’s ‘super early’ to focus on silverware

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is focusing on his own team and insists it is still too early to think about possible Premier League title rivals.

The Gunners, after finishing second to Manchester City each of the past two seasons, are bidding to be crowned English champions for the first time since 2004.

Arteta and his players have made no secret of the fact that this season’s goal is to win the title, but he has played down rumors of a possible three-way battle between Arsenal, City and Liverpool.

“No, it’s super early,” he said Friday, after being asked if a three-horse race could happen this season.

“For me, we just started doing it. But you already feel the tension, the importance of every match. But we’re only at the beginning of October.’

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured during training in London Colney on Friday

Man City, led by Pep Guardiola (right), has won four consecutive Premier League titles

Arsenal and City – who drew 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium last month – are both unbeaten so far this season and have each taken 14 points from their opening six league matches.

But it’s Liverpool who currently sit at the top of the table, having won five and lost one of their first six.

Arsenal host Southampton on Saturday in a match that sees Arteta’s men take on Aaron Ramsdale for the first time since he left the club in a £25million deal in August.

Ramsdale made 89 appearances for Arsenal between 2021 and earlier this year, when he decided to leave the Emirates Stadium after losing his status as number 1 goalkeeper to David Raya.

Arteta revealed at Friday’s press conference what was the first thing he did after finding out Ramsdale had officially left the club.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool is currently at the top of the Premier League after six rounds

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale will play against his old club on Saturday

“I called him straight away after I got the news (of his move to Southampton),” Arteta said. ‘He was really happy.

‘He is a player we love very much. Very charismatic. He really put his fingerprints here as he was. And it will be a lot of fun to see him.”