Three weeks after the severe defeat at The Amex, Arteta still vividly recalled the discomfort of watching Arsenal underperform. The Spanish coach even described that performance as painful to watch, admitting he questioned himself during the initial days of the international break.

According to Arteta, the loss to Brighton was influenced by several factors, including a packed schedule that saw Arsenal play four consecutive away matches. However, he didn't use this as an excuse, acknowledging that Brighton played better in critical moments.

"The first few days were not easy, especially when you constantly ask yourself what you did wrong, where you fell short to witness such a painful game," Arteta said after the Leeds win. "But I try to learn from defeat, because if you don't, you start blaming other things and stray from the issue that needs addressing."

From that experience, Arteta set two goals before the match at Emirates on 10/10: restore the identity damaged by the Brighton loss and defeat Leeds, an opponent unbeaten in the first 5 rounds. "We had something to prove," he stated. "Part of Arsenal's identity was hurt against Brighton, especially in how the team reacted when facing difficulties. Today was an opportunity to fix that."

Coach Mikel Arteta celebrates during Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Leeds in the 6th round of the premier league at Emirates Stadium, London, England, on 10/10/2026. Photo: Reuters

Arsenal started well, controlling the game and creating favorable attacking situations. However, Arteta noted that his players failed to exploit open spaces, overlapping runs, and opportunities to get the ball into the penalty area. This made the game open, allowing Leeds to utilize their counter-attacking ability.

In the 55th minute, the visitors took the lead with a close-range tap-in from James Justin, forcing Arsenal to chase the game. But then, the Gunners rallied, scoring two quick goals through Riccardo Calafiori and Bruno Guimaraes to secure a 2-1 comeback victory.

"We escaped that situation by igniting the team's desire to win, fighting spirit, character, and courage," Arteta commented. "After the equalizer, the team's energy shifted. The substitutes once again made a significant difference, helping us win. Those are the qualities that define Arsenal."

Arteta emphasized the psychological factor, stating that "the line between a team capable of winning titles and an ordinary team is very thin." According to the 44-year-old coach, if Arsenal lacks a greater desire to win than their opponents and the ability to control emotions in adversity, they will pay the price. "All of us suffered after the Brighton loss, but learning from it is important. We had frank discussions, and I clearly sensed the players' determination to correct their mistakes," he said.

Arteta particularly praised Guimaraes, who came off the bench to score the decisive goal, earning Arsenal three points. He commended the Brazilian midfielder's timing, link-up play, and finishing ability, explaining that not starting him was to ensure his fitness. "Bruno had to travel to Australia and then India. He wasn't in peak physical condition because he hadn't had a pre-season," Arteta explained.

Despite this, Arteta believes Guimaraes can still improve. "Against Brighton, he wasn't up to standard. Today Bruno improved significantly, but there's still room for improvement," he observed. The Spanish coach stressed that every player must maintain their level in every game, every minute, and every play. He affirmed he would apply these strict standards to the entire squad, including himself, to help Arsenal continue to progress.

On 13/10, Arsenal will play at home again against Lille in the second leg of the Champions League qualifying round.

Hong Duy (according to Daily Mail, Arsenal.com)