Arsenal’s dramatic 4-3 victory over Luton Town, marked by a thrilling 97th-minute goal, epitomises the team’s resilience and fighting spirit.
Under Mikel Arteta’s guidance, the squad’s unyielding determination to win, evident in numerous close contests this season, has propelled them to the top of the Premier League.
Arsenal’s late win a testament to squad’s spirit, says Arteta
Arsenal’s 4-3 win over Luton Town, sealed with a 97th-minute goal from Declan Rice, was a display of the team’s never-say-die spirit, according to manager Mikel Arteta.
The victory, reminiscent of similar successes against Manchester United, Manchester City, and Brentford this season, was particularly significant for Arteta.
Arteta believes such hard-fought wins are crucial in building a strong bond among the players. “I think it gives a special chemistry between them to live moments like that in football,” he said after the match at Kenilworth Road.
“That’s the beauty of it, it’s not about you, it’s about doing it with a team and the energy you feel in that dressing room is something unique.”
The Arsenal boss praised the team’s relentless pursuit of victory, irrespective of the situation. “The way we want to play, we are never satisfied with a draw – we want to win games. The risks that we take, the initiative that we take, how we suffocate the opponent, how we want to play forward and the team got rewarded. We had many other chances to score before that but we left it until the end,” he explained.
Arteta also commended Luton Town for their spirited performance and the vibrant atmosphere their fans created. “Congratulations to Luton, the atmosphere they created was electric, it was special. The way they played, they made life really difficult for us, they are really well coached, they have a big spirit in the team. We had to dig really deep – especially the way we conceded the goals – to have a chance to win the game in the way that we’ve done it,” he added.
This latest win marks Arsenal’s seventh consecutive victory in all competitions, propelling them temporarily five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Despite the congested fixture list and the need to manage player rotation and injuries, Arteta is pleased with the team’s consistent performance.
“Today was really difficult context after having a game three days before, another one three days before and another one three days before that,” he noted. “This is obviously an accumulative thing. We lost players as well, but the team showed the same willingness and character to win.”