Mikel Arteta also suggested that there were some “really strong performances” from his Arsenal players against Tottenham at the Emirates.
Arsenal started the game well but Tottenham took the lead against the run of play in the 33rd minute. Sergio Reguilon crossed it into area and Lucas Moura touched it onto Erik Lamela.
The attacker went for an audacious rabona from inside the area and he found the bottom corner past Bernd Leno in exquisite fashion.
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The Gunners finished the half strongly and they equalised just before the break. Kieran Tierney did well to pick out Martin Odegaard in the area and the loanee scored with the help of a deflection off of Toby Alderweireld.
Arteta’s men were the better side in the second half as well and they were awarded a penalty just past the hour mark. Davinson Sanchez brought down Alexandre Lacazette and the forward finished the spot-kick calmly to make it 2-1.
Arsenal survived some late Spurs pressure to earn all three points. They remain tenth with this victory but they are now four points behind their rivals.
Arteta told Sky Sports, as cited by BBC Sport, that his side fully “deserved” the win against Tottenham:
“Full credit for the way we have done it today after two days coming back from Europe. It was incredible. Going 1-0 down the way we were playing was disappointing and worst case scenario against a team like Spurs. But we kept playing and deserve the win.
“Last 10 minutes we did not manage the game and we need to improve on as a team. We relied on luck. With the way we played we should have seen it out comfortably.
“We prepare the game trying to exploit areas. We had some really strong performances today. You could see the energy they were playing with.
“It is about how you react. This team have the reaction in them to not give up. We kept playing and generating chances and got rewarded. We play quite well in the previous derbies but they are so efficient. They don’t need much to score. You see with Lamela today. A quality goal.”
On Aubameyang: “He is an incredible guy and one of the most important players in the team. He is our captain and these things happen. We have lots going on in our lives and people finding it hard with the restrictions. I will never tell anything that happens in the dressing room.”
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