Mikel Arteta accepted the need for “mental strength” after Arsenal’s familiar frailties were raised by the legendary figures of Patrick Vieira and Arsène Wenger, who managed to call out four different players between them in the aftermath of Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United.
Few clubs are as quick to catastrophize as this modern iteration of Arsenal. Burned by three successive runners-up finishes and the loss of lengthy leads, those with an affection for the Gunners are perennially primed to descend into depression at any whisper of a setback.
