Arsenal's resolve questioned, Arteta swiftly responds with strength

Mikel Arteta dismisses accusations of Arsenal's fragile mentality following the Wolves draw, emphasizing that "bottle jobs" is a term he and his squad do not recognize, and they are prepared to prove their resilience.

After a disappointing 2-2 draw against Wolves, Arsenal was unexpectedly labeled as "bottle jobs," a phrase implying mental weakness at crucial moments. However, coach Mikel Arteta quickly pushed back, stating he does not accept this label for his team.

Although still leading the Premier League and controlling their own destiny in the title race, Arsenal missed the chance to extend their lead over Man City by conceding a late equalizer to Wolves. Goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie put the "Gunners" ahead, but defensive errors cost them the win in an unbelievable fashion.

In response to the criticism, Arteta candidly declared: “That word is not part of my vocabulary, and I do not view the situation in that way. I don’t believe anyone intentionally wants to lose something. I would never use that term.”

The Spanish tactician admitted that Arsenal must accept pressure and criticism after dropping two important points: “That is a personal opinion and you have to respect it. When you lose two points like that, you have to accept it. But what matters most to me is the next game, what we are made of, and how we write our own destiny.”

Ahead of the North London derby against Tottenham, Arteta maintained a calm demeanor instead of reacting angrily. He emphasized the importance of balancing high expectations with support for the players: “If you demand a lot from them, the level of support must match. Otherwise, nothing will work. Believe me, the demands have always been very high and they have known that for a long time.”

He also took full responsibility when the team falls short: “When we don’t meet the standards, I take full responsibility. I have never blamed any individual. If anyone should be held accountable, it’s me.”

Arsenal could see their lead over Man City cut to two points before the derby. However, having not lost to Tottenham since 2022, the "Gunners" still hold a golden opportunity to prove their mettle and silence all doubts about their mentality during this critical phase of the season.