Having conceded just once in four games, we came into Sunday's north London Derby with momentum and confidence.
But a defensive lapse for Tottenham's first goal, and then a late concession from a corner saw us leave empty handed from the game against Tottenham.
We spoke to Mikel Arteta after the final whistle - and this is what he told Arsenal Digital:
on where the game was lost...
We gave them the game again, an individual error and the set-piece that cost us three points again. But I'm extremely proud of the way the team played. This is who we are, it doesn't matter in which ground we will come here and do what we've done today, nullify the opponent and force them to kick the ball long and give it back to us. We have to improve in these areas because to compete at that level, you know the game is always open and when you [don't] close it, you always have the uncertainty of what's going to happen. It's part of the process that we have and we will learn.
on which end of the pitch concerned him more...
The goals we conceded. The other (scoring goals) is the hardest thing to do in football and it's the moment or a centimetre of hitting the bar or them making a good save. But the ones we had at the back today, we can do better.
on why it went wrong today...
That effect, sometimes when a moment like this happens, after you are ahead, you are completely dominating the game, you feel solid, you feel you are pressing the right way, that you are nullifying the opponent. And that happens obviously, your mind goes a little bit like this. Then in the second half it looks like 'OK, we are going to go, let's go and score the second guys and try to win the game'. The set-piece came in and we conceded the goal and then there wasn't enough time to turn it around.
on whether set-pieces are the main defensive concern...
It's one of them but in this league it's very difficult. It is part of the process we are trying to do. We will improve there and we know how important they are in big matches. We talked about it before the game today that set-pieces in this game are crucial, and today it cost us the three points.
on European qualification...
I'm going to keep going and I'm going to try to persuade the boys to keep going, and fight until we have a little bit of hope and until it's mathematically impossible. This is where we are.
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