Mikel Arteta insists that Manchester City’s recent struggles have NOT crossed his mind, as the Arsenal boss admits the Premier League title charge will be a ‘marathon’ for the Gunners

• Manchester City have  dropped six points in their last three league outings 
• Arsenal boss Arteta insists he’s not focused on the champions’ struggles 
• Manchester United have snakes in their dressing room, players who are not running. Bruce, Robson, Keane would never allow this – It’s All Kicking Off

Mikel Arteta claims Manchester City’s recent dip in performance in the Premier League has not crossed his mind as Arsenal sit top of the league.

City have dropped six points in their last three league matches — against Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea — and have not yet hit top gear.

But the Gunners boss has only one focus with their club leading the way by two points.

Ahead of their match against Luton tomorrow evening, he said: ‘I don’t think about that. I think about how we’re going to play better tomorrow, be more consistent, be more difficult to beat and the things that we need to tweak and how we can use our players in the best possible ways to win. It’s still a huge marathon ahead of us.

‘The encouragement comes from watching the (my) team play, watching them behave every day and how hungry and willing they are to approach every training session.

Mikel Arteta claims Man City’s recent dip in performance in the Premier League has not crossed his mind

The Premier League champions have dropped six points from their last three league games

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‘That’s what gives me encouragement. What the others do is something that we cannot control.’

The last time Arsenal faced Luton was 1991, and Arteta was effusive of the opposition’s progression.

‘It’s incredible the way they’ve done it,’ he said. ‘It’s a leading example for any club wanting to get to the Premier League. It gives hope to any club that is able to do something extraordinary like this.

‘We have already warned them (players about the trip). They know the kind of access, about everything. They have to know about the team they’re going to face tomorrow, the difficulties of playing against them and where the opportunities are to win the game as well.’

Arteta confirmed Takehiro Tomiyasu will be assessed tomorrow and could still be in contention.

Arteta also confirmed that Takehiro Tomiyasu could be in contention to feature against Luton

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