Arteta expresses ‘shame’ over Arsenal’s resilience in victory against Tottenham
LONDON — Mikel Arteta stated that Arsenal “demonstrated our character” in their 4-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday after feeling “embarrassed” by their prior draw against Wolves.
Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres each netted two goals as the Gunners delivered a commanding performance in the north London derby, extending their lead to five points at the top of the Premier League.
The resilience of the Gunners has faced scrutiny throughout this season, and that criticism intensified following their failure to secure a win against bottom-placed Wolves, where they squandered a lead to finish 2-2.
Nevertheless, they responded strongly to Randal Kolo Muani’s equalizer in the 34th minute with three goals in the second half, marking their fifth consecutive victory over Spurs—an achievement not seen since 1989.
“It feels like we demonstrated our character,” Arteta remarked post-match. “However, you must continue to prove it repeatedly because if you only assess your feelings after each match, it becomes a significant rollercoaster and is not sustainable.
“I cannot express how proud and pleased I am with what I witnessed out there, particularly considering how we managed the last 72 hours, as this game needed some context.
“Following the events against Wolves and the way we lost two points in the final moments, it was challenging. Yet, that is the allure of this sport. There is no logical explanation for how we ended up drawing that match. No matter how you review it, you think ‘it’s impossible,’ and you have to convince yourself it won’t happen again.
“But it did happen, and then you must pick yourself up because feelings of anger, disappointment, and even shame can arise. We come from various backgrounds, each with distinct emotions, and it is essential to unite everyone. It has been a pleasure to spend that time together, aligning our thoughts and asking, ‘What will the next chapter hold?'”
Both Arsenal and Manchester City, who have a match in hand over the Gunners, will enjoy a rare week off before their upcoming games. Pep Guardiola indicated that he would let his City players “enjoy a lot of caipirinhas, daiquiris during these three days” before refocusing.
When asked if he would do the same, Arteta replied: “I don’t consume cocktails. So, no, we will follow our own approach.
“The volume of matches we are participating in across all competitions is remarkable, and it provides an opportunity to take a moment to breathe, evaluate our performance, and prepare for the next stretch until the international break. We will face a busy schedule ahead.”
