Arteta and Rice Confident of Catching Liverpool After Derby Win

Mikel Arteta and Declan Rice expressed confidence in Arsenal's title chances after their 2-1 win over Tottenham in the north London derby.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, issued a warning to Liverpool, stating that his “sensational” team is back in the Premier League title race. This declaration came after Arsenal secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the north London derby on Wednesday. The win was crucial for Arsenal, as they sought to close the gap on leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal staged a remarkable comeback after Son Heung-Min's early goal had given Tottenham the lead. Dominic Solanke's own goal leveled the score, and Leandro Trossard's strike late in the first half propelled Arsenal into the lead at the Emirates Stadium. The victory marked Arsenal's first win in four games across all competitions and moved them within four points of Liverpool.

Scoring home and away against Spurs.

Strong work from Big Gabi 😤 pic.twitter.com/gaJWinMFTq

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 16, 2025

Despite Liverpool's game in hand and their status as title favorites, Arteta expressed his conviction that Arsenal have the capabilities to challenge for the title. When asked if Arsenal are genuine title contenders, Arteta replied, “Yeah we are. There is so much to play for. We can see how difficult it is for every team.” This statement reflects Arteta's confidence in his team's abilities and their potential to track down Liverpool in the title race.

Arsenal's 2-1 win over Tottenham in the north London derby was a cathartic moment for the team, following a string of disappointing results. The Gunners had been eliminated from the FA Cup third round by Manchester United on penalties, just days after suffering a 2-0 loss to Newcastle in the League Cup semi-final first leg. A draw at Brighton in the league had left Arsenal looking like outsiders in their title hunt, but this victory has revitalized their chances.

Mikel Arteta expressed his relief and admiration for his players' performance, which demonstrated the hunger and determination required to overhaul Liverpool in the second half of the season. “We were sensational. It was a big test after two games and not getting rewarded,” he said. Arteta acknowledged that his team had been unfortunate not to win their previous game against Manchester United, despite being “incredibly good.”

Arteta emphasized the importance of responding to adversity, highlighting his team's resilience and determination. “It's how you respond to a situation. These boys want more, They want to be tested and questioned, then they want to go on the pitch,” he said. Arteta praised his players for their courage and attitude, particularly given the short turnaround between games. “We have big examples of that today, playing 72 hours after 120 minutes on Sunday.”

Arteta viewed the match against Tottenham as a test of his team's character, and he was delighted with the outcome. “To play the biggest game of the season for our people, it was a test of attitude, what we are made of, the courage we have. From minute one, we fully deserved to win the game,” he said.

Mikel Arteta was asked if the north London derby success had restored confidence in him and his team. However, the Spaniard emphasized that his confidence is not dependent on individual results. “We can't control that. We lost in the most incredible way against Manchester United,” he said. Arteta's confidence stems from his daily observations of his players' performances. “My confidence comes from seeing the players and how they perform every day. If my confidence comes and goes with each result then we should not be doing this.”

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was ecstatic about the team's dominant performance against Tottenham. “You can tell that tonight meant more than anything. From the first minute, the first half was pure domination,” he said. Rice felt that Arsenal's 2-1 victory did not accurately reflect their superiority, stating, “We showed the intent, the pressure, the desire, you could tell it was a derby. I think we were probably unlucky that we didn't score 10. That is the feeling.”

Rice, who played through injury to anchor Arsenal's midfield, took the opportunity to respond to his critics. “As I've got older I don't get the recognition I deserve,” he said. Rice acknowledged that his high-profile transfer to Arsenal and his association with the club may contribute to the negative perception. “I was bought for a big fee and I play for Arsenal. Not a lot of people like Arsenal. I keep my head down and I know my qualities.”

Like Arteta, Rice is confident that Arsenal can reel in Liverpool, provided they capitalize on any further slips from their rivals. “Every time Liverpool have drawn we have not capitalised on it and that's been a kick in the teeth,” he said. Rice emphasized the importance of closing the gap on Liverpool, stating, “To close the gap is important, a big night for us.”