Mikel Arteta revealed that he told his players at half time that defeat to Wolves would effectively end Arsenal ’s hopes of catching the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Gunners boss was speaking just moments after his side completed a dramatic comeback to beat Wolves 2-1 at The Emirates.
Wolves went in front after just 10 minutes of play when Hwang Hee-chan capitalised on a Gabriel error to round Aaron Ramsdale and score from a tight angle.
It looked set-up to be a frustrating night for the home team, who saw wave after wave of attacks repelled by one of the Premier League ’s meanest defences.
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But it was the introduction of Nicolas Pepe off the bench that changed the game, with the Ivorian capping a wonderful Arsenal move by firing in an equaliser with ten minutes to go.
And in the final seconds of injury-time Jose Sa own goal earned Arsenal a vital victory which moves them just one point behind Manchester United having played two games fewer and five behind Chelsea with an extra match to play.
The come-from-behind victory also meant Wolves were beaten after scoring the opener for the first time in 45 Premier League matches.
A delighted Arteta told Amazon Prime that the manner of victory was perfect to build belief in his young side and opened up on his passionate half-time team talk.
“It was an important win for us,” he explained. “The way we won it creates such a belief and togetherness and an atmosphere and cohesion with our fans as well and that’s extremely necessary. This is a really young squad and we need that.
“I said at half time, if we want to be third or fourth with the big teams we have to come out in the second half and beat them. That was the spirit from half time and we managed to do it.”
On the expectations for the remainder of the campaign, Arteta joked: “After three defeats in the first three games we had to avoid relegation. That was the first aim.
“Then we took it game by game...you just have to be consistent with your vision and the way you prepare and believe the result will come.
“We don’t know how important the result is today, but we know the importance of winning matches, particularly at home, we have to be extra good if we want to be fighting for those places.”
Asked if his games in hand could give them an edge over Chelsea and United, he added: “We have the possibility of going above them, but the games in hand are not important, we have 14 games to go and we have to make the most of them.”
The Gunners now have an extended break before their next fixture, when they travel to Watford on March 6.
Meanwhile, the heartbreaking loss leaves Wolves in seventh in the Premier League table, six points off Manchester United having played one game fewer.
