Mikel Arteta has called for composure within the Arsenal ranks following their 1-1 draw against Brentford on Thursday. The result leaves the Premier League leaders just four points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, heightening the tension in the title race.

Speaking in Friday's press conference, the Spanish manager emphasized the need for focus: "That’s what we have to do. Prepare ourselves to be better than our opponents in every single game. There have been many 'what ifs' this season... We can only focus on what we have to do."

FA Cup Rotations and the Wigan Challenge

With a quick turnaround before Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Wigan, Arteta confirmed he will shuffle his squad:

• Squad Depth: "We will rotate as we have been doing, ensuring every player feels like an important part of what we do across different competitions."
• Historical Context: While Arsenal holds a record 14 FA Cup titles, they haven't lifted the trophy since Arteta's debut season (2019-20) and haven't progressed past the fourth round in the last five years.

Arteta also addressed his decision to pull Eberechi Eze at halftime during the Brentford clash. He clarified it was a purely "tactical change" and defended the former Crystal Palace star, noting: "I think he had his moments. It’s never easy when you join a new club; it’s always like that."

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