Mikel Arteta and Ian Wright are singing from the same hymn sheet, agreeing that Arsenal has discovered an ‘extra bonus’ in its title race with Liverpool and Manchester City.
The Gunners sit ahead of the Reds in the Premier League table after the latter dropped points at Manchester United. Arsenal picked up a 3-0 win at Brighton the day before, ensuring they ended the weekend leading the race for the title. Arteta’s side is in ominous form, having won 10 of its 11 league games in 2024. In that same time, the Gunners have scored 38 goals while conceding just four.
While Arsenal’s attack against Brighton was ruthlessly efficient, it was their defensive solidity that truly stood out once again. Saturday’s result marked their fifth consecutive away clean sheet in the Premier League a statistic that clearly resonated with the players.
One notable moment saw Gabriel Magalhães make a block from a shot by João Pedro in the 91st minute before celebrating with a roar that was quickly echoed by his teammates. Speaking to the press after the match, Arteta praised his squad: “Really pleasing for all the coaches to see the reaction of the team at 3-0.
“It is great as that tells you how much they want it and the focus they put into every single ball. That was an extra bonus.”
During Match of the Day, Ian Wright, cited by the Mirror, noticed: “This is what the manager was talking about the commitment and what it means. This kind of block and celebration is because of what it means.
“The clean sheet, what it means and what it may mean in this race, to not concede and to score goals. And that is why you can see that celebration, because there’s a lot of hard work going into that defensive unit and what they’re trying to do.”
When asked about his team’s away success, Arteta replied: “It is about performances. You have to earn the right to win in this league and the teams ask you a lot of questions.
“There are a lot of things you have to control to win a game in the Premier League away from home and the team seems to be controlling those moments much better and are comfortable in different stages of games when the teams are demanding other stuff. That is a big step as a team.”
