Arteta Praises Arsenal’s Grit in ‘Ugly’ 1-0 Derby Win Over Spurs

Arteta Praises Arsenal’s Grit in ‘Ugly’ 1-0 Derby Win Over Spurs

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hailed his team’s resilience after they battled to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, despite the absence of key players Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

With skipper Odegaard sidelined due to an ankle injury and Rice suspended, the Gunners showcased their fighting spirit in a scrappy north London derby, securing the win through Gabriel Magalhaes’ second-half header. The Brazilian defender’s first goal since February extended Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season and kept them two points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Arteta was full of praise for his squad’s determination, saying, “Super happy obviously. We know what it means for our club and our people to win a north London derby. Sometimes to win you have to do the ugly things, and the players embraced that.”

The gritty performance marked Arsenal’s third consecutive league win at Tottenham and continued their dominance over their fierce rivals, with just one defeat in the last eight meetings.

Despite Tottenham’s wastefulness in front of goal, Arsenal’s disciplined defense and ability to capitalize on set-pieces made the difference. Arteta acknowledged the contributions of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, celebrating the Gunners’ remarkable record of 23 dead-ball goals since the start of last season.

Arteta also stressed the importance of the victory ahead of a challenging week, with Arsenal set to face Atalanta in the Champions League before taking on Manchester City. “It’s a tough week coming up. This win will give us a lot of energy and belief,” he said.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, lamented his side’s lack of cutting edge in the final third, as Spurs continued their inconsistent start to the season. Despite acknowledging his team’s set-piece vulnerability, Postecoglou pointed to their failure to convert chances as the primary reason for their defeat. “We wasted our good play,” he said. “You keep opponents in the game when you don’t take your chances.”