Coach Mikel Arteta: 'Arsenal feels angry, disappointed, even ashamed'

After the 4-1 triumph against Tottenham, Mikel Arteta spoke to the press and considered this overwhelming victory a significant milestone in the championship battle.

Coach Mikel Arteta stated he “couldn’t be prouder or happier” when Arsenal crushed Tottenham Hotspur 4-1, thereby restoring a 5-point lead at the top of the Premier League.The Spanish manager even viewed this as a possible “turning point” for the entire season.

This resounding win in the North London derby came just days after the shock of losing a 2-0 lead against Wolves. Arteta admitted that defeat brought heavy emotions to the whole team: “After what happened against Wolves, everything was really tough. Looking back, you can’t understand how we let that game slip away. You feel angry, disappointed, even ashamed,” he shared.

However, instead of collapsing, Arsenal turned their pain into motivation: “We are a group with many nationalities and different personalities, but it’s amazing to see everyone come together and ask: ‘How do we turn this into a turning point and make ourselves better?’. Football is more than a job – it’s passion, a purpose in life. It can be very painful, but also incredibly rewarding,” Arteta emphasized.

The 43-year-old coach remained calm as he experienced his first week without a midweek match in two months: “We have shown our character, but you have to prove it again and again. I couldn’t be prouder or happier with what the players have shown, especially how they have conducted themselves in the past 72 hours,” he said.

Arteta also gave special praise to Eberechi Eze, who continued his outstanding form after the previous derby hat-trick by scoring two more goals against Tottenham: “I can see he wants to prove something. He was even upset with me for not starting him against Wolves,” Arteta revealed.

The demolition of Tottenham not only strengthened Arsenal’s position at the top but also sent a strong message that they are ready to rise after setbacks, exactly as Arteta intended: turning pain into reward.