3 positives & negatives from the 2-2 draw against West Ham

Positive #3: Title still in our hands

The result was hugely disappointing, but, the fact remains that we are still in control of our own destiny in regard to the Premier League title race. The only game that matters now is our next match against Southampton which, if we emerge victorious, will allow us to head into the all-important Manchester City game with a seven-point advantage, albeit having played two games more.

It is vitally important that the players understand that and, more importantly, believe they are still capable of winning the league. Whether or not the last two results are looked back upon as wobbles, or the start of a downward spiral will be controlled by the reaction of the team.

Negative #3: Confidence boost for Manchester City

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are a fantastic side, and the last thing Arteta would have wanted was for his players to gift them a needless confidence boost. As Liverpool have discovered multiple times during recent years, the slightest slip-up can be incredibly costly against this City side, who are ruthless in their pursuit of success.

Given our last two performances, the reigning Premier League champions, who recently cantered to a 3-0 victory against German giants Bayern Munich, will be smelling blood and will now be full of confidence ahead of the encounter between the two sides.

We may still have the title in our own hands, but so too do Manchester City.