Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised the mentality of his players against Tottenham. He says the players became more determined after conceding an equalizer.
The determination helped them win the game. This has also proved that they are a strong contender to challenge for the Premier League trophy.
ARSENAL AGAINST TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR POST MATCH FULL REPORT
Arsenal defeated Tottenham 3-1 in the derby match. The goals were scored by Gabriel Jesus, Granit Xhaka, and Thomas Partey. However, the game was not an easy win. The Gunners had to keep their heads cool during the whole match. They were also the favorites to win the match. Another reward was the win also would keep them on the top of the Premier League table.
Hence, the Gunners played attacking football throughout the match. Even after conceding, they never took a defensive approach. The match was already having intense duels due to the rivalry of both the clubs. Hence, the Arsenal squad played well and won the match. However, it was the mentality and reaction of the players that impressed Mikel Arteta.
THE DETERMINATION OF SENIOR PLAYERS ENCOURAGES THE YOUNG PLAYERS
The Gunners squad are a young squad in the Premier League. Hence, there was a chance that their concentration would go down after the Spurs equalizer. However, it seems the experienced players like Gabriel Jesus, Granit Xhaka, and Thomas Partey did not let it happen. The experienced players encouraged the young players to chase the winner in the second half of the game.
A report also claims that Granit Xhaka apologized for giving the ball away which ultimately led to a penalty goal for Harry Kane in the first half. Mikel Arteta was also happy with the reactions. He said,
“The way we started, we were really aggressive, we were really determined.“We had a good connection, good quality, and good intensity in our play, and I could sense that we were up for it.“Then we conceded the goal and I loved the reaction of the team. “We refocused ourselves and won the game.”
Arsenal fans will love the current mentality of the squad under Mikel Arteta. The owners will also be happy that they spent the money on the right players. Hence, this can be finally the season for the team and the fans to qualify for the Champions League.
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