Xavi and Mikel Arteta have given Man City the motivation they need for final nine fixtures

As Arsenal look to return to the top of the Premier League table tonight, Mikel Arteta has changed his tune after losing to Manchester City last week.

Arteta insisted that the title race is not over, but also knows that they need City to slip up twice in their remaining six league fixtures. He said after City's dominant 4-1 win last Wednesday that Arsenal need five wins from five, taking them to 90 points, leaving no room for error against an unpredictable Chelsea side tonight.

In the six days since losing to City, Arteta admitted that it's been hard to lift his side, before going on to heap praise on City in an apparent attempt to reposition Arsenal as plucky contenders rather than the side who have led the Premier League for the vast majority of the campaign.

ALSO READ: Kyle Walker challenges Erling Haaland to improve even more with Harry Kane comparison

"We deserved to lose the game and we have to move on, but I think it was a good reality check as well in the way that they stepped up the level and we could not reach that level," Arteta said ahead of tonight's clash with Chelsea.

"The reality check is as well that you have to step up to that level for 10 months, so we have to believe in what we do because we are so good as well. In sport you have to accept the reality, and when a team is able to take the game to a different level and you're not able to step up to that, you have to recognise that there is still work to do, not get confused, be very humble and recognise what our strengths are and what our weaknesses are to be better.

"The reality is as well that for 247 days we have been with them, and tomorrow can be another where we are still there. There are five games to go so there are a lot of things that we