Arsenal’s chaotic win at Tottenham raises one question about title run-in

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If the game had turned out differently, Mikel Arteta may not have made the following joke. He was asked about his unwavering trust in his team, while Tottenham kept putting crosses into the box during the tense 3-2 lead. Arteta quipped, "I definitely had some doubts in the last few minutes!"

It's only natural that Arteta felt the pressure during those crucial moments, anyone in his position would have. It was clear that Arsenal's chances at winning the title depended on those final minutes. In the end, they made it through and Arteta proudly declared that his team never gave him a reason to question their abilities.

Some people may argue about the way the previous season concluded, and the coach himself mentioned the contrast in opinion between the current matches and the events that took place during the end of last season.

It's always the same when you come out on top. However, during the previous season, we didn't end up winning because we missed a penalty during our match with West Ham. In the end, the final verdict is determined by that end result. If Tottenham had scored a goal during the last minute of the game, making it 3-3, we wouldn't have been able to claim victory. The difference between winning and losing is incredibly slim.

However, there is a notable difference between this season and the last one, demonstrating that the team has developed and become more mature. Arsenal has achieved a higher number of points in the previous three matches, reaching a maximum of nine, than they managed throughout all of April last year.

The fact that Arsenal managed to win games against formidable opponents is truly remarkable. Going up against teams like Wolves while on the road, and facing Chelsea and Tottenham on home turf, were definitely challenging matches that could have easily derailed Arsenal's quest for the title. However, Arsenal managed to overcome all of these obstacles and emerged victorious. Their victory over Tottenham was smooth sailing... until the last 15 minutes of the match when things got a bit more intense. Despite this, Arsenal still managed to come out on top.

One thing that comes to mind regarding this intense showdown that is now visible to everyone is whether it was truly beneficial for them to go through it in the manner they did versus Spurs, where they lost a 3-0 lead, rather than winning easily in a comfortable fashion. While Arteta clearly didn't want his team or David Raya to go through the error that caused Christian Romero's goal - "it sends the wrong message to your brain," as he expressed - such a challenging experience can help a team reveal something deeper inside of them.

This season's victory for Arsenal had a different feel compared to the previous one, where the team had undergone numerous nerve-wracking finishes. This time it was more focused and apparent. It was clearly evident in the way the players and staff reacted, with Bukayo Saka exhaling heavily on live television, the staff embracing each other, and the entire team running towards the supporters' section.

Arteta expressed uncertainty, but he thinks the second option is excellent. He believes the players will have more confidence. Doing it two years in a row is a challenging feat, and last year they had to struggle in the second half to win. This is a great achievement, and the team now has another tool in their arsenal- confidence to win on the biggest stage during important games. They have learned a valuable lesson.

Feeling good is a positive sensation that can energize a group of people.

If it appears that we are placing too much emphasis on the mental aspect, it's because it's crucial during a title race. The common sayings are in fact accurate. You simply need to concentrate on completing the task at hand. This match was a prime example of that.

People usually praise Arsenal for their strategic control of matches and ability to keep their opponents at a distance. However, Spurs managed to overcome both of these qualities in this particular game, making it a challenging experience. Despite this, Arsenal held their ground and remained resilient.

To be fair, there was a method to the madness. Arsenal's victory over Spurs can be attributed to their proficiency in executing set-pieces throughout the season.

Ange Postecoglou's team deserves some recognition for rebounding and managing to score two goals, but he cannot avoid being blamed for the way the match played out. They should have seen aspects of the game coming, such as Ben White's tactics and Arsenal's approach. Moreover, Postecoglou had a whole two weeks to get his team ready for this specific game. Lastly, people are raising eyebrows over Postecoglou's response to a question regarding whether he had recognized any patterns in the game.

The speaker mentioned that the team's current situation needs to be acknowledged before making any moves. They explained that focusing solely on improving defensive set pieces wouldn't necessarily guarantee success in narrowing the gap. Therefore, the speaker won't be allocating all their resources towards that strategy.

For our team, our main priority is paying close attention to the finer details of the game. We don't just focus on set-pieces, but on all the different moments throughout a match. We understand that if we don't consistently put pressure on our opponents and limit their time and space to make plays, we leave ourselves vulnerable to getting scored on.

In my opinion, the opposing team tried to score four times during the first half but only succeeded three times. However, I do not believe that the problem lies in just one aspect of the game. It is a more significant issue that needs to be addressed. Specifically, our defense during set pieces was not up to par during these two instances. Nevertheless, there are several other things that require improvement to get back on track.

It's difficult not to consider it a task that's fairly straightforward to handle. It has assisted Arsenal in closing a divide.

Occasionally, their players make jests about being recognized as "set-piece FC," yet it has elevated their chances of winning a title to a more respectable level.

The current situation poses a risk where both Arsenal and Manchester City may emerge victorious in their upcoming matches. In such a scenario, Arsenal would fall short by a single point. However, this shouldn't be seen as a condemnation because they have already progressed further than they did in the previous season.

Their hope is still intact. Instead of it being fueled by being 3-0 ahead, a large portion of it arose from maintaining a 3-2 lead.