Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal’s sensational display after they bounced back from recent cup disappointment to win 2-1 at home to Tottenham and reignite their Premier League title hopes.
Arsenal dominated the opening exchanges but failed to make a number of set-pieces count and were hit by sucker-punch in the 25th minute when a deflected effort by Spurs captain Son Heung-Min found the bottom corner.
It failed to rock the Gunners, who had been knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United on Sunday and lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle last Tuesday, with their seventh corner able to produce a leveller after 40 minutes when Gabriel’s header went in off Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke.
Leandro Trossard completed the turnaround soon after and, while the visitors enjoyed the majority of possession after the break, Arsenal produced a trademark resolute defensive display to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool to four points – albeit the Reds have one match in hand.
“Very proud of the team, I think we were sensational,” Arteta insisted.
“It was a good test to see after two big performances and not get rewarded in two different competitions you have to play the biggest game of the season for our people, in those conditions.
“It’s a test of attitude, what we are made of, the courage that we have. We really cared 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 and I think we played from minute one with and without the ball to hurt them.
“I think we fully deserved to win the game and I think we made a lot of people really happy but really proud to see a team that behaves the way they have played again.”
Recent league draws with Brighton and Everton had damaged Arsenal’s league aspirations, especially with Liverpool previously in imperious form.
However, Arne Slot’s men have dropped points in each of their last two fixtures in the division and Arteta bristled when it was put to him that some had suggested the Gunners may have been out of the race.
He added: “Yeah we are (in the race), because it’s so much to play for and we can see how difficult it is for every team to win.
“The result gives us the chance to enjoy the moment, instead of momentum because the momentum start tomorrow to prepare Aston Villa in three days.”
Ange Postecoglou refused to make any excuses after his depleted Tottenham team tasted defeat for an 11th time in the Premier League this term.
While Spurs have battled with a spate of unavailability during the last two months, with eight players sidelined for this fixture, the 59-year-old did not shy away from the fact their display at the Emirates was not good enough.
“Not good enough, especially the first half. Way too passive, allowed Arsenal to take control of the game,” Postecoglou admitted.
“Really disappointed with the way we, both with and without the ball, allowed them to dictate the tempo and paid a price for it. The second half was a little bit better but nowhere near good enough.
“There’s no magic cure. You’ve got to get up tomorrow, work hard and go into Sunday (at Everton) and prepare to go into battle and turn around our fortunes and our season. There’s nothing magical that’s going to change it.
“There’s always reasons for all these things to happen. The reality is that our results and our form in the league has been nowhere near good enough. That needs to change.”
