Mikel Arteta has praised his Arsenal side for grinding out what he described as one of their most hard-earned victories of the season, following a tough 1–0 win over Crystal Palace.
After a demanding run of fixtures that saw the Gunners play every three days, Arteta admitted that this particular result carried extra weight.
“I told the boys that I probably value this victory more than any other victory this season, because we knew the difficulty of it after playing every three days,” he said, reflecting on the physical and mental toll his squad has endured.
The Arsenal boss also highlighted the importance of the timing of the win, with rivals dropping points over the weekend, giving his side a crucial opportunity to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table.
“We had a big opportunity as well with the things that happened during this weekend and I knew we played against a team that, in my opinion, has been one of the best recently in terms of organisation, how difficult they make it, how frustrated they can make you, and the moment that you lose that concentration, they will punish you.”
Arteta’s respect for Palace’s structure and resilience was clear, acknowledging how challenging Roy Hodgson’s side can be to break down. Despite a sluggish opening, Arsenal managed to find their rhythm and edge ahead before halftime.
“We have managed to be very stable, playing the game that we have to play. In the first half we were a bit stuck, but we found a way to score a goal and in the second half we attacked better and were more fluent.”
The Gunners’ defensive solidity also drew praise from the manager, who emphasized the importance of maintaining focus to secure all three points.
“But with 1-0, we knew that we had to suffer because a team has to score goals to beat any other opponent this season, so to keep the clean sheet is very important.”
The win keeps Arsenal firmly in the title race and underlines their growing maturity, able to grind out victories even when not at their scintillating best. For Arteta, it was a night that showcased not just his side’s talent, but their resilience and belief.
