Mikel Arteta says the backlash against Arsenal over the postponement of the north London derby has unified the club as they bid to reach Wembley on Thursday night.
Arsenal were due to play Tottenham on Sunday, but the match was postponed as the Gunners did not have 13 first-team outfield players available due to a combination of Covid-19, injury and international absences.
Arteta insists everything Arsenal did was by the book, however they have come under fire in the wake of the postponement.
The club have been criticised for not getting a team out to play Spurs and Arteta says the backlash has united Arsenal as they prepare to host Liverpool in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Thursday night.
“I think we are going to see that in the stadium,” he said.
“We have to defend ourselves and the best way to defend ourselves is to demonstrate who we are and that’s what we have to do. The best way to do it is when we are on that pitch.
“We will defend our club with teeth and nails. We are not going to get anybody damaging our name, or trying to lie about things that haven’t occurred.
“We will make mistakes, and we will put our hands up, but we will defend our club in a really strong way.
“We know we did the right thing, and we worked together with the Premier League and the FA to make that decision and to explain the reasons why. I think if anything, we have been very very honest at least.”
