Mikel Arteta says Arsenal should earn the right to be crowned Premier League champions, instead of relying on possible sanctions against title rivals Manchester City.
Arsenal are five points clear of champions City heading into this weekend’s clash – with the two teams meeting at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
The game will take place with a cloud hanging over City, which has been accused of more than 100 breaches of financial rules.
The city has denied wrongdoing but could face tough sanctions, including points deductions and even expulsion, if found to be in violation of regulations by an independent commission.
But Arteta, who was previously Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City, said the team needed to “tend our own garden”.
“Let’s focus on what we have to do and win enough football matches for that to happen (winning the league),” the Arsenal manager said on Friday.
“We have to earn the right to win, that’s for sure.”
Arsenal, chasing their first Premier League title in 19 years, host Brentford on Saturday after losing their past two matches.
A narrow FA Cup tie against City was followed by a 1-0 defeat at Everton – only their second league defeat of the campaign.
Arteta said the players’ reaction to the defeat at Goodison Park was “very positive”.
“They were very different games where we lost against City and Everton, but losing brought a lot of opportunities to look at other things and see how the team reacted,” he said.
“The reaction of the team has been great this week. Tomorrow we will put in a good performance, in front of the crowd to try and win the game.