Mikel Arteta has praised his Arsenal side for their hunger, discipline, and relentless desire after securing their fourth consecutive Premier League win, all without conceding a single goal. The Gunners’ defensive solidity and all-round intensity have drawn parallels to the resilience Arteta once embodied as a player.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Arteta highlighted a moment that captured the spirit he demands from his players:
“I think the spirit and action at the end. A corner from Declan [Rice], Ethan [Nwaneri] doesn’t win the duel and you see ten players sprinting 80 meters. I mean, if we play with that desire, focus and discipline then we will win a lot of games.”
It was a vivid picture of Arsenal’s collective determination, a squad refusing to rest, even in the dying minutes of a match already under control. That tenacity has defined their current run, making them one of the hardest sides to break down in the Premier League.
After the midweek Carabao Cup victory over Brighton, Arteta was asked about the balance between set-piece success and open-play dominance, given the increasing influence of dead-ball situations in Arsenal’s recent goals. His response underlined his all-encompassing vision for improvement:
“I’m the same with the defensive part in every transition, I want to be the best. When it comes to chaos, I want to be the best.”
He continued by outlining his philosophy of total development, striving for mastery across every phase of play:
“When it comes to positional attack, the best, when it comes to low blocks, the best and that’s the eagerness to constantly find ways to develop your team, to evolve your team and to give your players more tools to be unpredictable and especially more efficient.”
Arteta’s meticulous approach is paying off. Arsenal’s current defensive run, four league wins on the bounce, each accompanied by a clean sheet, marks their best streak of this kind since 2014. Coincidentally, Arteta himself featured as a player in every match of that previous run.
Now, as manager, he’s guiding a new generation to emulate the same standards of discipline and excellence he once upheld on the pitch. The message is clear, under Arteta, Arsenal aren’t just aiming to win; they’re striving to be the best in every department.
