Arsenal Secure Gritty 1-0 Win Over Tottenham as Arteta Praises Team’s Hunger Despite Missing Key Players
Mikel Arteta praised Arsenal’s determination and fighting spirit after they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on Sunday.
Despite missing key players Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice, Arsenal managed to grind out a win thanks to a second-half header from Gabriel Magalhães.
Ødegaard was sidelined due to an ankle injury suffered during international duty with Norway, while Rice was serving a suspension following his red card against Brighton.
Despite these setbacks, Arteta’s men demonstrated resilience and adaptability, particularly against a Tottenham side that struggled with poor finishing.
Gabriel’s goal marked his first since February, giving Arsenal their third consecutive win at Tottenham’s home ground.
Arteta was pleased with his team’s gritty performance and expressed satisfaction with their ability to perform “ugly” football when needed.
“Super happy obviously. We know what it means for our club and our people to win a North London derby,” Arteta said.
He added that losing key players before the match was tough but emphasized that his squad remained mentally strong. “There were no excuses, no crying. The players have thick skin. Sometimes to win you have to do the ugly things, and they love to do that.”
The victory leaves Arsenal unbeaten and in second place in the Premier League, just two points behind Manchester City.
With a challenging week ahead, including a Champions League opener against Atalanta and a Premier League showdown with City, Arteta is confident that the team’s momentum will fuel their belief.
Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou expressed frustration with his team’s lack of sharpness in front of goal, acknowledging their inability to capitalize on good opportunities.
While Postecoglou dismissed the notion that set-piece defending was solely to blame for the loss, he did admit that lapses in concentration contributed to Gabriel’s winning goal. “We switched off for one and paid the price,” he said.
In other Premier League action, Chelsea secured a 1-0 win at Bournemouth, with substitute Christopher Nkunku scoring in the 86th minute. The match set a Premier League record with 14 yellow cards, and Bournemouth hit the woodwork twice. Chelsea’s late winner pushed them up to seventh place in the table, while Bournemouth sit 11th.
Arsenal Secure Gritty 1-0 Win Over Tottenham as Arteta Praises Team’s Hunger Despite Missing Key Players
