There was no hiding Mikel Arteta’s pride following Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Sp*rs with the manager as enamoured with his players as he was with the atmosphere at Emirates Stadium.
After painful cup defeats to Newcastle and Manchester United, the Spaniard recognised his side’s season was teetering on a knife edge and called on supporters to bring the noise.
They didn’t disappoint, roaring the Gunners to a comeback victory that closed the gap on league leaders Liverpool to four points.
Gabriel Magalhaes’ header, via the chest of Dominic Solanke, cancelled out Son Heung-Min’s opener. And four minutes later, just before the break, Leandro Trossard finished a swift counter after Thomas Partey had won possession. The Belgian’s left-foot strike was one of Arsenal’s cleaner efforts on a night when they squandered plenty of opportunities to extend their advantage.
“I’m very proud of the team, I think we were sensational,” he said in his post-game press conference.
“I think it was a good test to see after two big performances and not getting rewarded in two different competitions.
“You have to play the biggest game of the season for our people in those conditions, and it’s a test of attitude. You know what we are made of, the courage that we have, how much we really care only about a result or the performance and how much we can do in terms of what is required in the game to be better than the opposition.
“I think we played from the minute one to hurt them with or without the ball. I think we fully deserve to win the game. I think we made a lot of people very happy, but especially very proud to see a team that behaves in the manner that they have played to it again.”
Reflecting on the crowd’s part in the win, he told Arsenal.com: “Today was one of the best [atmospheres] that I’ve seen. That’s what we have to do consistently, I said it in the press conference, that depends on us, nobody else.
“There are things that we cannot control – that one for sure we can control, so let’s make the most out of it.”
The tight turnarounds keep coming for Arsenal. While tired legs will spend this morning on the massage table at London Colney, attention quickly turns to Aston Villa’s visit to the Emirates on Saturday. As the side who did more than any other to knife the Gunners’ title challenge last year, it’s a chance to build momentum and take revenge.
“I think the momentum is now,” said Arteta. “We put in so much effort, the recovery, the way they have to bounce back immediately and play a game of this level. They have to enjoy it, they fully deserve it. Tomorrow [Thursday] we start with Villa and Saturday we’ll be ready again.”
With the FA Cup gone and an appearance in the Carabao Cup final looking unlikely following last week’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle, Arsenal’s attention falls firmly on a domestic title challenge and an adventure in Europe.
There’s even the prospect of a little break on the horizon if they can avoid a Champions League play-off. Arteta is keen to take advantage of a spare weekend in February when rivals are playing the FA Cup fourth round.
I know it was only a win against a mid to low table side but hopefully it will turn us around. We’ve come so far, let’s hope for a trophy this season!
Congrats to all gooners. This one is always tasty. We still have a chance in the league and a good addition up front can make it happen. Indeed we should add three to make up for Saka.
Watching a replay this morning and the thing that stands out to me is how hard we are. We’re not in a good moment. A run of ill fortune on the pitch. Terrible injuries off it. For some reason there’s a narrative against us that translates to unconscious bias in the way we’re officiated. A game every 3 days. We’re tired. And sloppy. Ødegaard should have had a brace last night. Havertz has gone full emo-teen levels of self esteem. Going 1 down to a flukey deflected goal after the Newcastle and United games, who could say it would be… Read more »
damn that got me on the verge of tears no joking
This comment needs to be syndicated, reposted on all the negative so-called fan sites.
👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Well done to everyone last night for bringing the noise and keeping with the team when we went a goal down. It was tough with the away fans occupying the whole lower clock end in the last two games and hopefully the stark comparison against the atmosphere last night gets the club to seriously consider what options we have to put extended away allocations safely in the upper tier as the vast majority of other clubs do.
Possibly squeeze in two trips to Dubai.
Spare weekend in February?! As Sinatra would say: “Dubai Dubaidooo, Dubaidubaidooo, Dubai Dubaidooo..”
He believes. I believe. KSE – believe.
I don’t care if they believe, just that they open the checkbook
Don’t know about anybody else, but I always forget what an irritating shit Heung-Min Son is until the Spurs game comes round. I think some wider talk on a more regular basis about what an irritating shit he is would be best for everyone. No doubt, one of football’s most underrated wank stains.