The Gunners boss was delighted to see his side bounce back from two draws in a row in the Premier League
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal “showed what we’re made of” as they responded to midweek frustration with a 4-1 win away to Tottenham in the North London derby.
Two goals apiece from Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres secured an emphatic win that moved the Gunners five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The performance came just days after Arsenal surrendered a late lead in a 2-2 draw at Wolves.
Arteta admitted the manner of that dropped result had left the squad hurting.
“It feels like we showed what we are made of,” he said. “But then you have to show it again and again and again because if you have to just analyse how you feel after every game, it’s a massive rollercoaster and it’s not sustainable.
“I cannot be prouder and happier for what I’ve seen out there, but especially the way we lived the last 72 hours because I think this game in particular needed some context.”
Arsenal had been criticised for allowing Wolves to equalise with virtually the last kick of the game, and Arteta did not hide how difficult it had been to process.
“After what happened against Wolves and the manner that we lost two points in the last kick of the game, it was tough,” he said. “But that’s the beauty of this game.
“There is no explanation watching the game back how the hell we draw that game. From any angle, you watch it back and say ‘it’s impossible.’ and you have to watch it again and say it’s not going to happen.
“But it happened, and then you have to lift yourself up because you’re feeling angry, upset, ashamed at some point. And we are all different nationalities, we all have different feelings, and then you have to bring everybody together. And it’s been a joy to spend that time together with them, to align everybody and to say, ‘OK, what is going to be happening in the next chapter?’”
Sunday’s derby provided a convincing answer. After Randal Kolo Muani briefly levelled for Spurs in the first half, Arsenal asserted control after the interval, scoring three times to secure a fifth straight league win over their rivals, their best run in the fixture since 1989.
Both Arsenal and Manchester City now have a week without fixtures, with City holding a game in hand in the title race.
When it was suggested that Pep Guardiola might allow his players a brief celebration break, Arteta smiled off the idea.
“I don’t drink cocktails,” he said. “So, no, we will do our own thing.
“The amount of games that we are playing in every competition is just incredible and it gives you a chance to actually take a little breath, analyse what we’re doing and go again until the international break. We’re going to have a lot of games again.”
