In an early match of round 34, Man City defeated Burnley with Erling Haaland's lone goal to claim the top spot in the Premier League. Both Man City and Arsenal now have 70 points and a +37 goal difference after 33 matches, but the London club ranks second due to scoring fewer goals (63 compared to 66).

Today, Mikel Arteta's squad has an opportunity to reclaim the top position when they face Newcastle at their home ground, Emirates, while Man City competes against Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Coach Mikel Arteta during Arsenal's training session on 24/4. *Photo: Arsenal FC*

During the pre-match press conference, Arteta denied that Arsenal was psychologically affected by losing their 26-round, 208-day lead at the top of the table. "No, not for me," he stated. "Before, the pressure was on us being chased for months. The most important thing is always to win the next match."

The Spanish coach noted a clear improvement in team morale: "Energy is up, belief is up. Everything is clear: there are five matches to win, starting with the upcoming one. We will give our all."

A significant challenge for Arsenal has been their inconsistent performance in April. Under Arteta, this month has seen the team's lowest average points per game in the Premier League (from a minimum of five matches), securing 40 points from 27 games, averaging 1,48 points per match.

Additionally, 18% of Arsenal's Premier League defeats under Arteta have occurred in April (9 of 51 matches). The team is also showing signs of a slowdown, having lost four of their six recent matches across all competitions (with one win and one draw). This recent tally surpasses their total losses from the preceding 52 matches, which included 39 wins, 10 draws, and three losses.

Arsenal's training session on 24/4.

When asked if psychology holds more weight than tactics in the final five rounds, Arteta acknowledged, "That is the reality, and in the context of both teams, our current league position, and the number of matches remaining, I think that's an appropriate way to express it. It's also how I feel, and the Newcastle match is the first of those."

The 44-year-old coach also affirmed that Arsenal will not alter their approach, even if the title race might be decided by goal difference or goals scored. He emphasized the importance of balancing attack and defense during this late stage of the season.

Regarding the squad, Bukayo Saka may return from an Achilles tendon injury, Riccardo Calafiori remains questionable, while Jurrien Timber continues to be unavailable. Arteta might opt not to risk these key players, preferring to save them for the upcoming Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico on 29/4.

By Hong Duy (Source: ESPN, Arsenal.com)