Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has declared his team “sensational” and firmly back in the Premier League title race after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the North London Derby on Wednesday. The win, which came at a critical point in the season, has reignited hopes for Arsenal as they continue their pursuit of league leaders Liverpool.
The match began on a challenging note for Arsenal when Tottenham’s Son Heung-min scored early, leaving the home crowd at the Emirates Stadium stunned. However, Arsenal staged a dramatic comeback, starting with an own goal by Dominic Solanke that brought them level. Leandro Trossard’s decisive strike just before halftime then secured all three points for the Gunners.
This crucial win moves Arsenal to within four points of Liverpool, who still have a game in hand. Despite this, Arteta remains optimistic about his team’s chances of overtaking Liverpool and believes the title race is far from over. When asked about Arsenal’s title credentials, Arteta confidently responded, “Yeah, we are. There is so much to play for. We can see how difficult it is for every team.”
The victory was particularly meaningful for Arsenal after a difficult week of setbacks. The Gunners were eliminated from the FA Cup by Manchester United on penalties and suffered a League Cup semi-final loss to Newcastle. These results, combined with a league draw against Brighton, had cast doubts over their ability to challenge for the title.
Arteta commended his players for their resilience and determination, especially given their packed schedule. “It’s how you respond to a situation. These boys want more. From minute one, we fully deserved to win the game,” Arteta said.
Midfielder Declan Rice echoed his manager’s sentiments, praising Arsenal’s dominance in the derby. “You can tell that tonight meant more than anything. The first half was pure domination. We were unlucky not to score 10,” said Rice, who played through injury to lead the midfield.
