Mikel Arteta has delivered a defiant message ahead of Arsenal F.C.’s February 22, 2026 North London Derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, urging his players to respond to adversity with action rather than words, Softfootball reports.
Speaking in comments shared by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account, Arteta stressed the importance of resilience during challenging periods, referencing the team’s recent setbacks.
Arteta: “You have to stand up when they have a moment of difficulty”. “You have the perfect game against Spurs away to go and show how much we want it and how good we are. That’s it. That’s what we have to do. Talk on the pitch”.
The statement comes after Arsenal’s dramatic 2–2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. at Molineux on February 18, where they surrendered a two-goal lead. The dropped points intensified scrutiny in the Premier League title race, with critics questioning Arsenal’s consistency and tactical discipline.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has admitted that too many things went wrong following their recent match at Molineux on February 18, 2026. He views the derby as an opportunity for his squad to demonstrate their quality, character, and genuine title credentials on the pitch.
