Mikel Arteta has insisted the word “bottlers” is not in his vocabulary and that Arsenal must take criticism “on the chin” after surrendering a 2-0 lead against the bottom side, Wolves, in midweek.
With Manchester City facing Newcastle on Saturday night, the Premier League leaders could have their advantage over Pep Guardiola’s side cut to two points by the time they play at Tottenham on Sunday.
Arsenal have finished as runners-up for the past three seasons and more questions have been raised over their ability to win a first title since 2004 after the draw at Molineux. Arteta recognised his side had played a role in their own downfall against a team with only 10 points but backed them to bounce back against struggling Spurs.
Arsenal were described as “bottlers” by some pundits but Arteta said: “It’s not part of my vocabulary and I don’t see it like this because I don’t think anybody wants to do that as an intention. I wouldn’t use that word, but that’s me.
“That’s individual opinion, perspective. You have to respect that. That’s what I said after in the press conference. You lose two points against Wolves in the manner that the game played out, you have to take it on the chin.
“What I’m very interested in is the next one, what we are made of, what we love about this and how we write our own destiny from here.”
Arteta said the captain, Martin Ødegaard, and Kai Havertz could return from injury against Tottenham and that Bukayo Saka was available after being substituted against Wolves as a precaution. The manager said he had not read his players the riot act after such a disappointing result and had been showing them love.
“That’s not a choice I have to make. I love them and that’s it, like my kids, regardless of how. It’s not what I try to give them, it’s what they need. They need the truth. There is a really important diagram: the level of support and the demands you put on them. If you want the demands to be really, really high, the support [has to be] as well. Or it doesn’t work.
“Believe me, the demands are super high. They know. They have known for a long time. It’s not going to be an issue. When we haven’t been at our standards, I take full responsibility for that. I don’t think I have ever pointed at a single player or the team. If there is anyone responsible, that’s me.”
Arsenal’s technical director, James Ellis, has surprisingly left his post only seven months after being appointed. The 46-year-old joined from Fulham in 2021 and was promoted from his previous position as head of recruitment last summer but will depart as part of ongoing restructuring plans behind the scenes at the Emirates.
