Arsenal: 4 key performances against Tottenham

4. Mikel Arteta Gets the Win He Needs

Beyond any player or any individual moment, the biggest statement of all had to come from the manager. He, more than anyone else, needed this.

Obviously he wouldn’t say so, instead focussing on the team performance and support of the fans, but deep down he knows how badly he had to secure three points to convince people that what has happened up until this point has come with mitigation that was actually valid.

Surviving off excuses and factors beyond his control could only go on for so long. Arteta was beginning to starve. He can dine on the success of Sunday.

With his full complement of players available and with no more doubts over whether the new signings need more time to settle in, the time to deliver is now. Beating Tottenham the way Arsenal did and subsequently moving above them in the table does just that.

Only for a week, though.

High-flying Brighton are to come away from home and defeat there will leave this result in a different light: ‘Arsenal weren’t great, Spurs were just terrible’. What there is now, however, is a solidified view of what this team can be, no more words of encouragement of faint indicators.

This is the framework to build upon.