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Mikel Arteta is adamant that his Arsenal side will continue to seek Premier League glory as the season enters its final fortnight.
The Gunners entered the weekend just one point behind leaders Manchester City, but having played one more game.
Brighton are the visitors to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, and Arsenal will be hoping for a chance to return to the top, a position they held for most of the season.
Their title fate slipped out of their hands after a 4-1 rout at City followed by a run of three straight draws.
Since then, Arsenal have returned to normal with impressive wins over Chelsea and Newcastle and Arteta urges his players to keep working until the end of the campaign.
“We are going to keep digging, digging, digging, digging, digging,” he said.
“And maybe the prize is there. We don’t know if it’s there, but we’re going to keep digging, just in case that’s where we can get to, and make sure we can do the best we can.
“There is a lot at stake and we are full of enthusiasm to achieve this award in the best possible way.
Let’s keep digging… And maybe the prize is there.
mikel arteta
“To do that, we have to win our games and the first one is Brighton and they are fighting for something very important.
“That’s what’s going to make it really difficult.”
Arsenal will start against the Seagulls after City have faced relegation-threatened Everton.
Arteta spent six and a half years at Goodison Park before moving to Arsenal and is hoping for a favor from his former club, which stunned Brighton with a 5-1 win on the south coast last week.
“Obviously they are playing for their lives at the moment and you could see that in the last game against Brighton,” he added.
“Sean (Dyche) has reinstilled that belief and that cohesion around the team and the fans to create something special.
“As a huge Everton supporter, I want the best for them and that is not going to change this weekend.
“They had some very good results and some others that deserved more. They have been very, very competitive in the last few months.
“I’m sure they’re going to do their best, but there are teams fighting for Europe and others fighting for relegation and others playing the last game of the season at home, and you know what that means.
“Each game has a different meaning and for sure it will be important.”
