Sometimes, a victory is not only about points, but also a powerful spiritual medicine in the context of heavy pressure. The recent North London Derby was a perfect example of that, as Arsenal not only won but also overcame a attitude test that captain Mikel Arteta stressed was necessary to affirm the teams mettle.
Before entering the match, The Gunners faced fierce criticism after a disappointing streak of matches in 3 different competitions when they lost to Newcastle (League Cup), Man United (FA Cup) and drew with Brighton (Premier League). Another defeat to the same city would make things worse for Arsenal.
In fact, the Emirates team had a difficult start when Tottenham scored Son Heung-min's opening goal. However, Arsenal did not give up, they understand the pressure but did not let it drown out their fighting spirit. Instead, Mikel Arteta's team chose to stand up, push the difficulties back and take this match as an opportunity to regain confidence.
After two defeats in the cup, we had to play the biggest game of the season with such poor form. We know where we are made from, how brave we are and we really only care about the result or the performance. Arsenal played their best with and without the ball.
These guys want more than that. They want to be challenged, want to face difficult questions and answer them with their performances on the pitch. With the most intense nature of the North London Derby, we deserved to be recognized - Mikel Arteta shared.
Arsenal not only won, but also found joy and confidence in their playing style. Small but meaningful moments on the pitch show that, such as Gabriel Magalhaes celebrating enthusiastically after a good defense; goalkeeper David Raya confidently catching the ball with one hand; or young talent Myles Lewis-Skelly immersing himself in the vibrant atmosphere of the match.
These are positive signs, showing that the "Gunners" are reconnecting with the fighting spirit that has helped them succeed in previous seasons. The victory over Spurs not only took Arsenal to second place in the rankings but also shortened the gap with Liverpool to 4 points.
In the last match, Arsenal's first goal came from Gabriel's strong aerial performance after an unpredictable corner kick. However, what was more remarkable was the way they scored the second goal with a fast, smooth and inspiring combination. Thomas Partey steals the ball from the opponent's feet, quickly passing it to Martin Odegaard, who only needs one touch to pave the way for Leandro Trossard to finish. This is Arsenal in the best version with fast, creative and effective attack capabilities.
In addition, one of the brightest players in the match was Declan Rice, who devoted himself to both ends of the pitch. Despite having to go through a tight schedule, the English midfielder still showed a fiery spirit, what he called a "fire in his body" when facing Tottenham.
Although this victory brought a lot of motivation, Arteta understood that the bigger challenge was to maintain stability in the upcoming matches. With a tight schedule, especially when the main squad is wearing down physically, Arsenal need to find a way to recharge even without the enthusiasm of a Derby.
The Gunners' captain enjoyed the victory overnight but the next morning, they had to focus on the next task. Aston Villa are waiting for them and this will be an opportunity for Arsenal to prove that the victory over Tottenham was not an explosive moment but the beginning of a series of stable performances.
