Mikel Arteta maintains hope of pipping Chelsea to third, although he expects Arsenal's bid for Champions League qualification to go to the wire after an "ugly" win at West Ham.
Arsenal played in Sunday's late Premier League game after third-placed Chelsea and fifth-placed Tottenham played earlier in the day.
Chelsea lost at Everton, but Spurs beat Leicester City to briefly move ahead of their rivals into the top four.
Arsenal came up with a vital response, however, edging West Ham 2-1 at London Stadium to reclaim fourth place and close to within three points of Chelsea, with Thomas Tuchel acknowledging concern regarding his side's Champions League hopes.
Manager Arteta was not impressed with the Gunners' performance but recognised the importance of the victory.
"We didn't concede goals, but we didn't play so well," he told Sky Sports. "If I had to analyse the game, I would use a word that is to win ugly. Today we won ugly.
"Big teams have to find a way to win ugly when they don't play at their best, and today with the ball we were really poor."
In his news conference, Arteta was asked if this below-par display might have been linked to the pressure of Tottenham playing – and winning – first, but he dismissed that suggestion as "just an excuse".
Arteta is attempting to own that pressure, insisting he could not keep the Spurs score from his players.
"I think I would be wasting my time," he said. "If it's not the players, it's the staff, because everybody is with their phones, and they all know.
"So, we all knew the result beforehand, and the next week I don't think that is going to change; until the last day of the season we will probably be connected."
But Arsenal could yet climb further up the table, with Arteta asked if third place was now the aim.
"Mathematically, everything is open," he replied, "so we're going to have to go to Leeds and win again, because everybody's going to put pressure because everybody wants to play in the position we are in now.
"We have to handle that. It's a great opportunity, and that willingness and motivation that we have is what is driving us to continue to do so."
Arteta was without Ben White, who is to be assessed following a hamstring injury sustained against Manchester United, while Takehiro Tomiyasu and Bukayo Saka both had to be substituted.
The Arsenal boss assured Saka was simply "really fatigued", and Tomiyasu could not last the 90 minutes in his first start since New Year's Day, but Arteta was not concerned.
Rodri insists Man City have learned from past failures in Champions League
Manchester City have learned from past failures in Europe as they prepare to face Inter Milan in the Champions League final, according to Rodri.
City were beaten to the trophy in 2021 by Chelsea after a 1-0 defeat in Porto before throwing away a late lead to crash out against Real Madrid in the semi-final a year ago.
It leaves Europe’s top competition as the only major honour the club has yet to land, but they go into next Saturday’s meeting with the Serie A side in Istanbul as firm favourites to complete an historic treble.
The second leg of that feat was achieved with a 2-1 victory against Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, with a goal in either half from Ilkay Gundogan sealing the win and adding the cup to the Premier League title they won in May.
With Europe’s biggest prize having continued to elude them, Rodri pointed to last month’s sensational win against Real in the last four as confirmation that the team can right the wrongs of previous seasons.
“As I tell you before, we try to learn a lot from the past,” he said.
“It’s something you learn and I think the desire…how we played Real Madrid, for example, before a defeat there last year, so we’re going to play in the same way, trying to solve the situation, come back from the situation and try to win the final.”
The 4-0 victory at the Etihad against the reigning European champions that sent them to Istanbul saw City at their dazzling best, Bernardo Silva scoring twice together with goals from Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez to complete a 5-1 aggregate win.
It was in stark contrast to the feeling surrounding the club as they were eliminated by the same opponent at the same stage the previous campaign, letting a two-goal aggregate lead slip in the final minutes at the Bernabeu before losing in extra-time.
“I think that the experience is a very good point,” said Rodri. “Also the players that came in make a massive impact to give us extra every year. I think that the squad in general, you learn as a group. We try to innovate and push ourselves to the minute every time.
“I think Pep said that you will not be ‘big, big’ if you don’t win in Europe. It’s the exam we have to pass again. Another final and we are ready, that’s all I can say. I’m just going to push the guys to be ourselves. Be confident, be ourselves and try our best and fight for the final.
“We have a squad of 23 players and all of them have been important at some part of the season. The team wins trophies and the 23 were part of this from the first round until the end in the Premier League, the same in the Champions League to have into the final. The team is so important.”
Fred is yet to talk to Erik ten Hag about future at Manchester United
Erik ten Hag is yet to speak to Fred about his Manchester United future with the midfielder about to enter the final year of his contract.
The Brazil international has played 35 times in the Premier League this season and started United’s 2-1 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, but said afterwards that he is unsure about his future at Old Trafford.
This season has been by far the 30-year-old’s best campaign in terms of appearances with 56 games across all competitions.
He has played a key role as United have returned to the Champions League after a season away, as well as winning the Carabao Cup in February.
Ten Hag’s team were defeated by their city rivals on Saturday, thwarting them in their bid to win both domestic cups and stop City’s charge towards the Treble in its tracks.
“Of course I always want to be playing, to be helping my team and gladly today I started and I think we played well,” said Fred.
“(About my future) I still don’t know, I have to talk with my family, I still have one year left on my contract here. Now it’s holidays time and a good opportunity to rest. I’ll talk to my staff, to the club and see what’s everyone’s decision.”
Fred joined United for £47million from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018 but struggled to win a regular place in the side during his first season.
In all he has scored 14 goals in 213 games for the club, and during his time at Old Trafford has nailed down a place in the Brazil squad. He currently has 32 international caps and played for his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
He added: “I do have to talk with Ten Hag as well, he’s the manager and the conversation has to involve everyone. We have to see how next season will pan out.
“I want to be important, I want to help the team, so we’ll see. But I’ve always been and still am very happy at Manchester United.”
Luke McCowan signs new two-year deal with promoted Dundee
Dundee have continued to prepare for their cinch Premiership return by securing Luke McCowan on a new two-year deal.
The 25-year-old scored 10 goals last season including an excellent individual effort in the title-clinching victory over Queen’s Park.
The attacking midfielder has played 76 times since joining from Ayr two years ago.
McCowan told the club’s official website: “I am happy to get the deal done and I am looking forward to the season in the Premiership and taking the positives from winning the league last year into this year. I am excited to work under the new manager and for the season ahead.”
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