Mikel Arteta has hailed his side for defying all expectations as they surged five points clear at the top of the Premier League to seal their place as Christmas No1.
A second-half double from Martin Odegaard was enough to win at Wolves, the Gunners’ 12th victory in their first 14 games – a position from which no Premier League said has failed to win the title.
But Arteta, whose reign has been characterised by the purge of difficult personalities such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Matteo Guendouzi from the dressing room, insisted the atmosphere around the club is just as important as the results on the pitch.
‘Nobody expected us to be where we are right now and the amount of games we managed to win,’ said Arteta.
‘I’m more focused on the way we’re playing, the atmosphere we have here and at Colney, the relationship with our supporters. That’s much more powerful.’
Arsenal’s lead is their biggest at the top since December 2013 when they went on to finish fourth, seven points behind champions Manchester City.
And it was aided by City’s defeat earlier in the day by Brentford, which the team watched together as they look to out-run Pep Guardiola’s side.
The team were hit by a sickness bug affecting a small number of players from the pre-match meal, which eventually led to Granit Xhaka lasting only 15 minutes at Molineux. But they were in higher spirits when watching Ivan Toney’s late winner for Brentford.
‘You can imagine (their reaction),’ said Arteta. ‘That’s the way that you live in this league, that’s the beauty.
'The competition is that big that you’re always looking at your opponents. I did it in every team I’ve been in, it’s natural, but then you have to focus on your own performance.’
Charlesugwu
15
Please, start searching for at least two to three players, January is by the corner. You need to strengthen the team depth