Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal give everything in their final four matches to keep their faint title hopes alive ahead of a 'tough' test at Newcastle United. The Gunners moved back to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable home win over Chelsea on Tuesday night, but defending champions Manchester City sit just two points adrift with two games in hand.
Arsenal lost the initiative in the title race with a heavy defeat at the Etihad on April 26, but brushed off the disappointment to beat the Blues ahead of Sunday's trip to Tyneside. St James' Park was the scene of a damaging loss for Arteta's side in May last season, and the Gunners boss wants his team to push City all the way as they bid for a first title since 2004.
He told Sky Sports: "We have four games to go, we are top of the league, it was one of the things we talked about tonight - can we go back and go where we've been for many months and now we have to wait and see, we know it's not in our hands. We're going to try to [take it all the way] against Newcastle, we have another tough match, but we'll be preparing to win."
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January signing Jakub Kiwior delivered an assured display on his first start for Arsenal in the 3-1 victory over Chelsea, replacing Rob Holding and partnering Gabriel in defence. However, Arteta could be forced into a reshuffle at the back with Gabriel forced off in the closing stages with an injury.
Asked about the 25-year-old's availability post-match, Arteta said: "He wasn't comfortable. We tried for 10 or 15 minutes but he could not carry on which is strange for Gabi. So we are a bit concerned about that because normally he's not one who wants to leave the pitch."
