Mikel Arteta Exposes Arsenal Players' Shocking Two-Word Reaction After Wolves Meltdown
Mikel Arteta maintains he has witnessed a "remarkable response" from his squad after Arsenal's dramatic late breakdown in Wednesday's 2–2 stalemate against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Arsenal had been commanding a two-goal lead over the Premier League's basement club but relinquished their dominance in frantic scenes, with Tom Edozie's injury-time equalizer denying them the opportunity to establish a seven-point gap at the summit.
"What I've witnessed is a remarkable response once more, and I'm completely unsurprised," Arteta told journalists on Friday. "I mean, when you drop points at the final moment of the match again, in such an unforeseen way, I would describe it, because to anticipate someone with a 0.02 expected goal opportunity to score a leveler in the fashion we allowed it, nobody could truly comprehend that. But this is football, that's what makes it beautiful.
"And that represented one chapter. So, we have an extended campaign, Chapter 27 declares, 'Alright, we proceed, and we proceed in this fashion'. What truly interests me is the following one, what we're constructed of, what we cherish about this and how we craft our own fate moving forward.
"And that's all. And you must respond to that because life continues, the outcome must remain as unfortunate as it was. There's nothing we can change, what we can do is adjust to what will occur next."
Arsenal's Concerning Decline
Arsenal's Concerning Decline
Arsenal's collapse at Molineux was undoubtedly the most damaging of their recent setbacks, but considering their performances since the new year began, it's arguably not as shocking as it might appear initially.
The Gunners have secured merely three wins from their eight Premier League fixtures in 2026, with points lost to an injury-ravaged Liverpool followed by additional disappointments against Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Brentford and now Wolves.
40% of the goals they have allowed in the league this campaign have arrived during this calendar year and their lackluster offensive displays from regular play have additionally hampered their quest for a maiden title since 2003–04.
They are displaying numerous indicators of buckling under pressure, as they have in the previous three seasons, and Arteta recognizes his team could be merely two points ahead of pursuing Manchester City heading into Sunday's north London derby.
Ideal Chance to Quiet Doubters
Ideal Chance to Quiet Doubters
While the perpetually unpredictable north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur might seem like the most challenging fixture to follow the Wolves disappointment, it's actually the ideal chance for the Gunners to revitalize themselves.
Highly driven to claim three vital points and local supremacy, Arteta's squad has no room for wallowing or lingering on the letdown, instead being compelled to recover for a massive showdown.
Arsenal will face Igor Tudor's first match in the Tottenham hot seat, aiming to exploit any instability and take advantage of a Spurs roster weakened by an extraordinary number of injuries.
The positive aspect is that Arsenal have claimed victory in their previous three visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium—and how they would relish a fourth consecutive success.