Arteta: Let’s keep improving

We avoided defeat at the Etihad Stadium for the first time since 2016, holding the champions to a goalless draw on Easter Sunday, and Mikel Arteta believes there are plenty of positives to take from the performance.

For the second time this season we kept a clean sheet against Manchester City, and in fact restricted them to just two shots on target across 180 minutes of Premier League action.

“It was a really tough, really close match against a team that is unbelievable,” Arteta said afterwards. “I think the boys competed really, really well. We were really disciplined and patient with when we had to be. 

"The upside was that we had some big chances, some big situations that we didn't convert and the fact that we lacked a little bit of composure, especially with the ball in the first phase to play more, to have more, to be more courageous to play but credit to them because they make your life difficult.”

The boss revealed that his players were not completely pleased with the result afterwards.

“That's the feeling I get every day in the dressing room,” he said. “That's unbelievable. You know, we have prevented this team for the first time in three years to score a goal at home. And that tells you the difficulty of it. But they want more. And as individuals, we could have done more. As a team, we could have done more. And that's good to see.

“We are making the steps, but let's maintain all the good things we are doing and let's keep improving.”

After appraising the game, the boss said his attention will quickly turn to our next game, this Wednesday at Emirates Stadium.

“Now it's Luton, this has gone now, it’s Luton, a really tough opponent. You know, what they're doing against the top sides. And we need our people again on Wednesday night to create an unbelievable atmosphere and go again and try to win the game.”