Sleepless Arteta praises depleted Arsenal for ‘ugly’ win

Arteta praises Arsenal for Their “Ugly” Win Against Tottenham in the North London Derby

The North London derby is one of the most highly anticipated matches in the Premier League, and Sunday’s match between Tottenham and Arsenal did not disappoint. Despite being without several key players, including captain Martin Odegaard and defender Riccardo Calafiori, who picked up injuries during the international break, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his team for their 1-0 win against their arch-rivals. The victory was secured thanks to a second-half header from Gabriel, and it was a testament to the team’s resilience and determination.

“Honestly, I didn’t sleep much because I prepared for Tottenham for five days, then in one moment I lost one player and in another I lost another,” Arteta said in a post-match interview. “But there were no excuses, no crying. The players have thick skin. They love the game. Sometimes to win you have to do the ugly things and they love to do that.”

The Decisive Goal

The decisive goal came from a corner, and it was a reminder of Arsenal’s impressive record from set-pieces. Since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored more goals (24) from dead-ball situations than any other team in the Premier League. This is largely due to the impact of set-piece specialist coach Nicolas Jover, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2021.

“I made the decision to bring him to City when I was there and to Arsenal,” Arteta added. “Together with the rest of the staff, they have injected the belief that there are many ways to win games and this is one of them, so big credit to them.”

Arteta’s Praise for His Team

Arteta was full of praise for his team for their performance, which was considered an “ugly” win by many pundits. However, for Arteta, it was a testament to the team’s resilience and determination. “I loved it, because day after day the players are hungrier and hungrier,” he said.

This win was a significant one for Arsenal, as it ensures they stay within touching distance of Premier League leaders Manchester City. However, the victory came at a cost, with Calafiori and Odegaard joining Declan Rice on the sidelines.

The Impact of Injuries on the Team

The injuries to Calafiori and Odegaard were a significant blow to Arsenal, and it remains to be seen how the team will cope without them. However, Arteta was quick to point out that the team is not one-dimensional and that there are other players who can step up and make a difference.

“We had to adapt a little bit because of some of the players we lost,” Arteta said. “But the players have thick skin. They love the game. Sometimes to win you have to do the ugly things and they love to do that.”

Arsenal’s next few matches will be crucial in determining their fate in the Premier League. They face Atalanta in their Champions League opener on Thursday before traveling to Manchester City next Sunday.

A Tough Run of Fixtures

The next few weeks will be a testing time for Arsenal, as they face a tough run of fixtures. However, Arteta is confident that his team can emerge from this period with their heads held high.

“It is a tough week coming up,” Arteta said. “The players believe already. We have won a lot of big games, but this will give us a lot of energy and belief.”

Can Arsenal Keep Up the Momentum?

Only time will tell if Arsenal can keep up the momentum from their win against Tottenham. However, one thing is certain – the Premier League is proving to be an exciting and unpredictable competition, and Arsenal are one of the teams to watch.

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