Arsenal Triumph in North London Derby, Arteta Vows to Learn from Last Season’s Mistakes
Mikel Arteta etched his name in Arsenal history books on Sunday, becoming the first manager to secure consecutive away victories in the North London derby in over three decades.
Crucial Away Win Secures Top Spot
The Gunners knew the importance of the match, needing a win to maintain pressure on Manchester City in the title race. Arsenal delivered a thrilling performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, taking an early lead thanks to an own goal from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz further solidified their advantage, although a late Tottenham surge threatened to spoil the victory.
This win signifies more than just three points. It marks a significant achievement for Arteta, surpassing even the legendary Arsene Wenger in terms of consecutive away wins against Spurs.
Arteta Backs his Squad to Avoid Past Mistakes
With a handful of matches remaining in the season, Arsenal remains ahead of Manchester City. Arteta is confident that his team has learned from their shortcomings of the previous year, when they squandered an eight-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s side.
“We have proved we can handle this stage of the season better than last year,” Mikel Arteta said in a post-match press conference. He elaborated on the crucial differences: “Last season we didn’t, because we went to West Ham and we missed a penalty, and against Liverpool we conceded in the 91st minute and then you’re not capable. At the end the judgement is going to be based on that outcome.”
The manager acknowledged the pressure and narrow margins in the title race. “The margins are so small. I was praying at the end . There were so many Spurs players in the box. It was a really emotional game,” he admitted.
Mikel Arteta Praises Squad’s Motivation
Despite the tense ending, Arteta has unwavering faith in his squad’s commitment. “One hundred percent the players are going to fight until the very end,” he declared.
“I’ve seen that the whole season. They give me the reason to believe that every single day. We are right on it. The motivation for what is ahead is beautiful. We are all expecting that they’re going to have a real go. Emotionally it’s been a very demanding month, but yesterday I had to stop them in training because they wanted more. That’s a good sign,” Arteta concluded.