Mikel Arteta Praises Arsenal's Fighting Spirit After Win

Mikel Arteta celebrates Arsenal's win

Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal's fighting spirit after 2-1 win over Newcastle United. Late goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel secure victory.

“If it is not a clear and obvious error, VAR should not intervene. It is clear that VAR does not have to intervene...”

Mikel Arteta expressed his delight with Arsenal's fighting spirit after a thrilling late show against Newcastle United. According to Arteta, Arsenal's 2-1 Premier League victory over Newcastle will be a valuable learning experience for the team, and he believes the fighting spirit displayed can propel them to the title.

The match seemed headed for a loss until Arsenal's perseverance paid off. Trailing until the 84th minute, Arsenal faced a daunting task, but Mikel Merino and Gabriel scored late headed goals, securing three crucial points. This dramatic win lifted Arsenal to second place in the table, just two points behind Liverpool, and significantly boosted the team's confidence.

Arteta praised his team's determination and quality, stating, “We fully deserved the win. The way we played and performed and competed, the chances we generated, we deserved to win.” He emphasized that overcoming adversity is key to reaching the next level, adding, “That's how you get to a different level. By going through those moments and taking lessons from it.”

WE. NEVER. GIVE. UP. 👊 pic.twitter.com/xiTvil7iNZ

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 28, 2025

The victory was marked by controversy, with Arteta expressing frustration over a VAR decision that overturned a penalty award for Arsenal. Despite this setback, Arsenal's resilience and set-piece prowess ultimately secured their win, showcasing the team's character and mentality.

“We fully deserved the win,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “The way we played and performed and competed. The chances we generated. We did it in a dramatic way but we deserved to win.

“The courage, the determination and the quality we played with today. We want to achieve the next level and to do that you have to come to these places and show that conviction and desire to do it.”

💬 "Football sometimes gives you back what you deserve."

Mikel salutes the squad mentality 💪

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 28, 2025

Arsenal was thwarted by missed chances, outstanding goalkeeping from Newcastle's Nick Pope, and a contentious VAR decision that overturned a penalty award when Viktor Gyokeres appeared to be fouled in the box. The score was still 0-0 at that point. Mikel Arteta expressed frustration and confusion over the VAR intervention, which was not the first time he had been left questioning such a decision.

Our number 6️⃣

🤳 Shot on Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/QFVsMEhgox

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 28, 2025

“If it is not a clear and obvious error, VAR should not intervene. It is clear that VAR does not have to intervene because it is a penalty,” Arteta said of the incident.

Those setbacks only made the victory sweeter.

“That is how you get to a different level. By going through those moments and take those lessons from it. It was a massive opportunity to show who we are.

“You have to come to this place and you have to win. You have to find a way to do it and it was tremendous.”