Granit Xhaka has urged Arsenal to focus on themselves as they prepare for a “big” clash with title rivals Manchester City.
The Gunners are currently three points ahead of City at the top of the Premier League, but they could be overtaken on Wednesday when the two sides meet at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal had a five-point lead going into last weekend’s games, however the gap was cut by two on Sunday after the Gunners drew with Brentford and City beat Aston Villa.
The derby draw followed on from a defeat to Everton in their previous game, with Xhaka insisting Mikel Arteta’s side are focusing on themselves and not the fact City are chasing them.
“If we are honest, we are not speaking about them,” he said. “We are looking at ourselves, game by game. We didn’t win [on Saturday], we took one point. And Wednesday is big - for them, for us. So, let’s see.”
Arsenal had looked on course to claim all three points against Brentford on Saturday when Leandro Trossard gave them the lead in the 66th minute. The Bees, however, hit back in under 10 minutes through Ivan Toney and in controversial fashion.
Xhaka was aggrieved as he felt Ethan Pinnock was offside from the free-kick which Toney scored from, arguing the Brentford defender was blocking Gabriel. The Premier League’s referee chief has since apologised for the human errors which led to the goal being awarded.
“We are disappointed because what we hear is that the blocker was offside, where we have got our player,” Xhaka said. “I don’t know why they change the rules weekend by weekend.
“But it’s the referee’s decision not to give the offside, our decision to mark the players, the runners. We didn’t do it and you concede a goal like this.”
Arsenal had plenty of possession against Brentford, but they struggled to break them down and Xhaka admits the Gunners must get used to playing stubborn opponents like that as they bid to win their first title since 2004.
“We are disappointed of course. We knew how Brentford would play,” he said. “It was hard to break them, but we did.
“And after that we have to be much more…maybe smart to take the 1-0 and to take the three points. We didn’t have the chance to take the three points today and we are disappointed.
“I think it is not only them that are coming here, or even if we play away, that they (some teams) drop deep and are hoping for set-pieces or second balls or something else. We know that.
“We are training for that as well, but it is not always easy. They did a good job without the ball today. But, if you break them like we did with the 1-0, you have to take the three points.”
