Gabriel Jesus has told his Arsenal team-mates they must now beat Manchester City in an epic Premier League title decider next week.
The Gunners dropped points for the third game in a row on Friday, salvaging a late 3-3 draw after going behind to rock-bottom Southampton. Mikel Arteta and co were behind after just 27 seconds which set the tone for a frustrating night at the Emirates. Arsenal's latest slip-up has given City the upper hand in the title race, with Pep Guardiola 's reigning champions now five points behind and boasting two games in hand on their rivals.
But next Wednesday the two teams will meet in Manchester and Arsenal striker Jesus, who left City last summer to join the Gunners, is ready to turn the tide. "Manchester City have two games in hand but if we want to be champions we have to go there to win the game," the Brazilian, 26, affirmed to Sky Sports. "That is all."
Disappointed with Friday's result but attempting to remain positive, Jesus added: "A lot of things is going on now. We don't want to come here and talk negative because we are very positive, what we are doing this season is amazing. The Premier League is tough. Now is the difficult moment. It is time now to stick together until the end.
"We still have a lot of things to do this season, it is not over, we are still five points clear. We are the youngest team in the league, not making excuses. Sometimes we do right and sometimes we do wrong, everyone can make mistakes that is why it is so important to stick together.
"Everything can happen. Obviously we are not happy with the last three games, we dropped points and we know this is true, no one has to tell us. We dropped a little bit of our level and focus, this is the Premier League, it is so difficult to win this competition. We are still there, we are still fighting and we will fight until the end."
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Gunners boss Arteta said: "We are obviously unhappy with the result, We made it very difficult again for ourselves but mistakes are part of football but the way we reacted I love my players more than ever. It is incredible, we were on the way back, we conceded again with a sloppy goal but in the end we should have won the game.
"We created enough chances and opportunities but it didn't happen and we are disappointed. You can't concede three goals in this league, if you concede three like we did in a sloppy way it is very difficult to win matches. This young team reacts in a way that is incredible, when it is against the odds but the chances they created and the spirit they had it was a joy to watch.
"The message is clear that I love them. We are down and they are more willing than anybody to win it. You can see that spirit and fight in the dressing room but it is clear we have to do defensively things better."
