Mikel Arteta proud of Arsenal dressing room days after being ‘angry and ashamed’
Arsenal delivered a statement victory in the race for the Premier League title as they bounced back from the draw with Wolves to thump Tottenham away from home
Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal showed “what they are made of” after admitting their slip-up against Wolves left him feeling “ashamed.”
Gunners boss Arteta said he was “proud” of his players after Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres both scored twice to push Tottenham into serious relegation danger.
It also breathed life back into Arsenal ’s title challenge as they pulled five points clear of Manchester City on the back of blowing a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at bottom of the table Wolves last Wednesday.
Arteta said: “It feels like we showed what we are made of. But then you have to show it again and again and again.
“I cannot be prouder and happier from what I’ve seen out there. And after what happened against Wolves, and the manner in how we lost two points with the last kick of the game, it was tough.
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“But that’s the beauty of this game. There is no explanation watching the game back how they hell we drew that game. From any angle, you watch it back, I said it’s impossible. But it happened. Then you have to beat yourself up because you feel angry, upset, ashamed, at some point.
“Then you ask: ‘how will we use it to be a turning point and to make ourselves better?’ That was the focus and the intention but you still have to do it on the pitch. And I think what we’ve done from the beginning until the end of the match was outstanding.”
Arteta also praised his goal heroes and said Gyokeres’ overall performance was arguably his best since his £64m summer move. His brace took him to 15 goals in all competitions.
“For me, the best, the most complete and especially when we need him most and that is when big players and big clubs have to stand up when you are needed,” said Arteta.
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“Eberechi was absolutely brilliant. He was upset, even with me, because I didn’t play him the other day from the beginning, and some of the decisions that I made. And I just have to understand how we’re going to get the best out of him now.”
Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor pulled no punches with his assessment. He said: “I’m very sad and very angry and everything but in one way it is also good to understand where our goal is.
“What is the goal of this club? What is the goal of this team? What is this goal of this coach, these players, this staff?
“To become serious. Serious, not just a group of 20 players, and the medicine is you look in the mirror. Each of us look in the mirror and really try, really start to change the habits. Working hard is the only way.”
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