Forward of one other pivotal week, wherein they face Chelsea on Tuesday after which bitter enemies Tottenham on Sunday, the prospect of a primary title since 2004 continues to be there.
“It’s nice to be high as that is the place we need to be, since January our run has been unbelievable,” Arteta mentioned.
“We have now to beat Chelsea now, they’re in good kind and we have now to offer it an actual go. If you wish to be combating on the high, you must present that resilience. The group has proven that they’ve one other step ahead to make. We’ve been combating for the league in successive seasons, and now this 12 months competed within the Champions League, so this exhibits you far we’ve come.”
Arteta has been right here earlier than however feels this group, and the mentality of his gamers, will assist keep away from one other late collapse. But the 2 chastening defeats had solely ramped up the stress and underlined how there may be so little margin for error when competing for main trophies.
This felt like an enormous second of their season, in opposition to a Wolves group whose tremendous season is threatening to fizzle out. Wolves are enduring a deepening harm disaster, with slim hopes of European qualification fading away final month. With Pedro Neto, Matheus Cunha, Craig Dawson, Nelson Semedo, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde all absent, and Rayan Ait-Nouri solely simply returning to the squad, O’Neil merely doesn’t have sufficient choices to problem a group competing for the title.
Among the many Wolves substitutes was 15-year-old Wes Okoduwa, who was dragged out of a science lesson at college on Friday to coach with the squad. 4 different youngsters had been on the bench. Usually, Wolves nonetheless produced a resilient efficiency, notably within the first half as they pissed off Arsenal with their depth and excessive urgent, and O’Neil admitted he was pleased with his depleted squad.
“An unbelievable efficiency, certainly one of my favourites contemplating how robust I assumed it could be,” he mentioned.
“I can’t consider how effectively the lads did with how quick we’re. It was an fulfilling night, which you don’t usually get if you lose. The intention once I was driving as much as Wolverhampton in August was to remain within the league.”
Arsenal had been hesitant within the first half, struggling to create probabilities, and the opening purpose got here out of nowhere on the stroke of half-time.
Gabriel Jesus was allowed to wriggle freed from the Wolves defence and the ball fell to Trossard, who sliced a shot into the highest nook. It gave the impression to be a fortuitous end, scuffed from his toe however proved so important within the context of Arsenal’s season.
