Arteta spoke frankly after the Brighton victory: 'The score should have been more than 2-1'

After beating Brighton, Mikel Arteta candidly expressed that Arsenal had full control and the 2-1 result did not reflect the chances they created.

The 2-1 triumph against Brighton helped Arsenal maintain their top spot in the Premier League, but for Mikel Arteta, the feelings after the match were more than just the joy of three points. Speaking at Emirates, the Spanish coach was both pleased with the display and revealed the ongoing pressure the team is enduring.

“I am very satisfied with the performance, both individually and collectively, truly dominant. We created numerous threats, many clear chances, and the score should never have been just 2-1,”Arteta emphasized.

He admitted Arsenal controlled the game, but a single careless moment made it tense: “Their first shot resulted in a goal, and then David had to make a save to keep the scoreline. But what I liked was how the team dealt with adversity.”

Those difficulties came not only from the opponent but also from an increasingly long injury list: “Yesterday we lost Jurrien, today Calafiori had an issue during warm-up. Declan had to play as a full-back, and you saw his performance.” According to Arteta, the players’ willingness to sacrifice themselves is the key factor helping Arsenal get through this phase.

When asked if injuries inadvertently brought the squad closer, Arteta responded decisively: “When I told Declan he needed to play right-back, he just said ‘okay.’ That attitude is fantastic.” For him, the spirit of embracing challenges is becoming a defining trait of the team.

Arteta also admitted the congested schedule and the two-horse race with Man City mean Arsenal cannot afford to relax: “We can only control what we do. Playing every three days is a big challenge, but we are ready.” He believes the team needs more players returning to maintain freshness and long-term stability.

Nonetheless, the coach is confident Arsenal can produce more convincing victories: “We have many quality players, a proactive style, chance creation, and intensity. This is a tough opponent, but we played very well for most of the match.”

Referring to the tense atmosphere in the stands and the anxiety whenever the team conceded, Arteta said it reflected desire: “That’s the will to win. We should have scored a third to change things, but when we didn’t, you have to learn to endure.”

In conclusion, Arteta spoke about the mental strength gained from narrow victories: “The ripple effect of winning is huge. You learn lessons and keep pushing forward.” For Arsenal now, that is probably the key to staying strong at the top of the table Premier League in the fierce race ahead.