Arsenal's head coach Mikel Arteta has called upon his players to harness the 'pain' from their unexpected 2-2 draw with Wolves as they aim to reignite their Premier League title aspirations against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The Gunners appeared to be heading toward a comfortable victory on Wednesday, leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie at Molineux Stadium.
However, the team was stunned when lowly-placed Wolves made a comeback with goals from Hugo Bueno and Tom Edozie.
This draw now leaves Arsenal, who are seeking to reclaim the title they last won 22 years ago, with only a five-point cushion ahead of Manchester City, who sit in second place.
Furthermore, Arsenal's form is waning, as they have now dropped points in two consecutive matches, following a prior draw against Brentford, and have secured only two wins from their last seven league matches.
Manchester City has previously chased Arsenal down to clinch the Premier League title in both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, making their April encounter crucial for the title race.
Arteta commented, "I’m going to be the first one to be close with them (the players) because it has nothing to do with attitude or desire; it is completely the opposite. It is part of football. Where it could’ve gone wrong today, it went wrong."
He further elaborated, remarking, "If you look at the manner in which we conceded the two goals today without allowing any other chances, it is quite unusual, but it happens. It transpired for a reason, and we must respond accordingly. Winning is essential when you are at the top; that is nothing new."
In their next match, Arsenal will take on a struggling Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday, with Arteta asserting the necessity of processing this 'pain' and preparing mentally for the upcoming challenge. "We need to confront this reality, reflect, and recognize what is required in the next game. We must internalize this experience to put up a display on Sunday," he stated.
On his part, Saka conveyed his disappointment in an interview with Arsenal.com, describing the team's mood as "flat" and expressing dissatisfaction with the result. He acknowledged the team's strong start in the first half but noted a drop in performance in the second half that led to their punishment.
Looking ahead to the match against Tottenham, the England international emphasized, "This is a significant game, and it remains a significant game. It is still under our control, so we must focus on correcting our issues and return to winning ways."
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