Arteta delights in Arsenal attitude and Emirates noise

Today at 04:06 AM

There was no hiding Mikel Arteta’s pride following Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Sp*rs with the manager as enamoured with his players as he was with the atmosphere at Emirates Stadium.

After painful cup defeats to Newcastle and Manchester United, the Spaniard recognised his side’s season was teetering on a knife edge and called on supporters to bring the noise.

They didn’t disappoint, roaring the Gunners to a comeback victory that closed the gap on league leaders Liverpool to four points.

Gabriel Magalhaes’ header, via the chest of Dominic Solanke, cancelled out Son Heung-Min’s opener. And four minutes later, just before the break, Leandro Trossard finished a swift counter after Thomas Partey had won possession. The Belgian’s left-foot strike was one of Arsenal’s cleaner efforts on a night when they squandered plenty of opportunities to extend their advantage.

“I’m very proud of the team, I think we were sensational,” he said in his post-game press conference.

“I think it was a good test to see after two big performances and not getting rewarded in two different competitions.

“You have to play the biggest game of the season for our people in those conditions, and it’s a test of attitude. You know what we are made of, the courage that we have, how much we really care only about a result or the performance and how much we can do in terms of what is required in the game to be better than the opposition.

“I think we played from the minute one to hurt them with or without the ball. I think we fully deserve to win the game. I think we made a lot of people very happy, but especially very proud to see a team that behaves in the manner that they have played to it again.”

Reflecting on the crowd’s part in the win, he told Arsenal.com: “Today was one of the best [atmospheres] that I've seen. That's what we have to do consistently, I said it in the press conference, that depends on us, nobody else.

“There are things that we cannot control – that one for sure we can control, so let's make the most out of it."

The tight turnarounds keep coming for Arsenal. While tired legs will spend this morning on the massage table at London Colney, attention quickly turns to Aston Villa’s visit to the Emirates on Saturday. As the side who did more than any other to knife the Gunners’ title challenge last year, it’s a chance to build momentum and take revenge.

"I think the momentum is now,” said Arteta. “We put in so much effort, the recovery, the way they have to bounce back immediately and play a game of this level. They have to enjoy it, they fully deserve it. Tomorrow [Thursday] we start with Villa and Saturday we'll be ready again."

With the FA Cup gone and an appearance in the Carabao Cup final looking unlikely following last week’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle, Arsenal’s attention falls firmly on a domestic title challenge and an adventure in Europe.

There’s even the prospect of a little break on the horizon if they can avoid a Champions League play-off. Arteta is keen to take advantage of a spare weekend in February when rivals are playing the FA Cup fourth round.

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