Arteta hails Arsenal’s defiance amid defensive crisis

Mikel Arteta lauded the unbreakable spirit of his Arsenal squad after they navigated a chaotic 24 hours to reclaim top spot in the Premier League. Despite losing Jurrien Timber in Friday’s training and Riccardo Calafiori during the pre-match warm-up, the Gunners ground out a resilient 2-1 victory over Brighton at the Emirates.

The injury crisis forced Arteta into a radical tactical reshuffle, most notably deploying England midfielder Declan Rice in an unfamiliar right-back role. Arteta praised the midfielder’s selfless attitude, noting that Rice embraced the challenge without hesitation—a mentality the manager believes is essential for a side chasing title glory.

On the pitch, the Gunners were dominant but failed to convert several gilt-edged chances to put the game out of reach. After Diego Gomez reduced the deficit in the 64th minute, Arsenal were forced to rely on the heroics of David Raya, who produced a world-class save from Yankuba Minteh to preserve the three points.

Arteta admitted his side "suffered" unnecessarily due to their wastefulness in front of goal, emphasizing that the margin of victory should have been far greater. However, the three points ensure Arsenal stay ahead of Manchester City, setting the stage for a mouth-watering encounter with title rivals Aston Villa this Tuesday.

With a growing list of "walking wounded," including Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera, the North Londoners are leaning heavily on their collective togetherness. This victory was a testament to a team that refuses to let physical setbacks derail their pursuit of a first league trophy in two decades.