Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal’s 3-2 derby win against Tottenham shows they are better prepared to win this season’s Premier League, but players I warned them not to get carried away.
The Gunners took a three-goal lead into the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s own goal added to by Bukayo Saka’s goal and Kai Havertz’s header.
The hosts bounced back after the break, with Cristian Romero pulling one back after Micky van de Ven’s equalizing goal was ruled out for a slight offside VAR ruling. Made the most of David Raya’s mistake Before Son Heung-min’s late penalty sealed a grandstand finish.
Arsenal survived to complete this season’s North London derby double and ensure they remain top of the Premier League until at least next Saturday.
I only sign when I can win.
Arteta, who led the league for a long time last season but was eventually caught up and overtaken by Manchester City on his way to winning the treble, said that this victory and the 5-0 debacle against Chelsea in midweek meant that Arsenal I feel like it shows what I’ve learned from the team. experience.
Asked if Arsenal are ready enough to win the title this time, the Spaniard replied: “I think so.”
“That’s always the case when you win. Last season we couldn’t do that because we missed a penalty against West Ham and conceded in the 91st minute against Liverpool because we weren’t capable at that point.
“Ultimately the decision will be made based on the result. If they had scored a goal at the last minute and made it 3-3, we would have said, ‘We wouldn’t have been ready.’ Masu.
“The margins are very small. Don’t get too carried away with yourself. We want to be better. There’s room for improvement. Let’s play Bournemouth again because it’s going to be a really tough game. ”
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Arteta also revealed he was hoping for divine intervention in the final stages, adding: There were a lot of Spurs players in the box. It was a really emotional match. We had to dig in, suffer, and respond. I’m very happy with how the team is doing. ”
Tottenham’s defeat ended their hopes of finishing in the top four and left manager Ange Postecoglou dissatisfied with the refereeing of the game against Arsenal.
Dejan Kulusevski screamed for a penalty seconds before Arsenal broke through, and Havertz extended his lead to Saka with a superb feed.
“I don’t celebrate goals anymore.”
Adding to the frustration was the fact that VAR intervention was required to award Tottenham a second-half spot-kick after Declan Rice kicked Ben Davies.
“It doesn’t matter how I look at it,” Postecoglou said. “The point is, what I’ve said all along is that matches will no longer be refereed in stadiums. They are being judged elsewhere and no one will convince me otherwise.
“It’s not even reviewed, it’s judged elsewhere. That’s why I don’t celebrate goals anymore. I’m waiting for someone in the street. I don’t want the referee in the stadium to make a decision like before. I don’t think I have the authority anymore.
“They just say, ‘You know what, I’ll just wait and see what the guy on the other side of the street thinks.'” That’s a shame. I don’t like it, but it’s here to stay and I have to accept it like everyone else. ”
But Postecoglou was pleased with Romero’s play – the Argentine defender rattled the post with a header in the first half and then reduced the arrears after Raya passed the ball directly to Romero.
“Yes, he was outstanding,” he added. “He’s a World Cup winner and I have to take what I have in him into other players. It’s disappointing.
“The result was disappointing. We wanted to win today for the supporters and the club. We didn’t do that and no matter what I think about the performance, the result is up to you. I I thought our football was generally good and decent.”
