Mikel Arteta said Arsenal “had an attitude test” after overcoming a difficult week to beat north London rivals Tottenham 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Son Heung-min gave Spurs a 25th minute lead before a Dominique Solanke his own goal and Leandro Trossard’s low shot a minute before half-time were enough to secure a victory that moved Arsenal above Nottingham Forest into second place.
Premier League leaders Liverpool hold a four-point advantage – and still have a game in hand – but Arsenal’s victory helps put behind them a disappointing three-game winless run, which included elimination from FA Cup by Manchester United on penalties and a first leg defeat in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle.
“I think we were sensational,” Arteta said. “After two great performances and without being rewarded in two different competitions, we have to play the biggest match of the season for our people in these conditions.
“It’s a test of attitude, of what we are made of, of the courage we have. How much we really only care about the result or the performance and how much we can do in what is required in the game to be better than the opposition I think we fully deserved to win the match.
Asked if closing the gap at the top had given Arsenal a chance to generate further momentum in the title race, Arteta said: “The result gives us the chance to enjoy the moment, instead momentum, because the momentum starts tomorrow to prepare (for) Aston in three days (on Saturday).
“That’s all the momentum we have is tomorrow morning when we see each other’s faces and we start talking about how we are going to beat Villa.”
