Arteta: We Must Improve But the Desire to Win Is Incredible

Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal’s mentality after 1-0 win at Brighton but insists his side must improve in the title race.

Mikel Arteta struck a balance between satisfaction and demand after Arsenal battled to a crucial 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.

Bukayo Saka’s early deflected strike secured the points on his 300th appearance for the club, sending Arsenal seven points clear at the top of the Premier League following Manchester City’s slip earlier in the evening.

Buy Arsenal's 2025–26 Home Kit through the ArsenalTalks Shop

Click this link to buy the new 2025–26 Arsenal home kit through our ArsenalTalks Shop.

But for Arteta, the significance of the night extended well beyond the result.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle, the Arsenal manager acknowledged the scale of the challenge his side faced.

“This was a really difficult one,” Arteta admitted. “After everything we’ve been through in the last few weeks, it was always going to be a really tough test — and we came through it.”

With William Saliba unavailable due to ankle injury, Arsenal reshuffled defensively, handing Cristhian Mosquera another start alongside Gabriel Magalhães. Against a Brighton side that dominated possession and pushed hard in the closing stages, the makeshift pairing delivered a valuable clean sheet.

Arteta did not disguise the fact that Arsenal were below their fluid best.

“There are certain things that we have to do better,” he said candidly. “But the commitment and the desire to win that they have is incredible. The effort they put in is astronomical.”

At times Arsenal were forced deep, surrendering territory and relying on resilience rather than rhythm. Brighton created moments of real danger, and the final 20 minutes demanded composure, organisation and discipline.

For Arteta, those qualities are just as important as technical excellence — particularly at this stage of the season.

“The commitment of every player is unbelievable,” he continued. “That’s the reason why we do what we do.”

Saka’s Milestone Moment

The decisive goal arrived in the ninth minute, with Saka cutting inside before seeing his effort deflect beyond Bart Verbruggen.

It marked the winger’s 79th goal for the club — and a landmark contribution on his 300th senior appearance.

“I didn’t know it was that many,” Arteta smiled when informed of the milestone. “At his age, it’s incredible what he’s doing — the consistency he’s showing. It’s a pleasure to have him.”

Saka’s reliability has become symbolic of Arsenal’s broader evolution under Arteta: young, fearless and relentlessly driven.

This was not vintage Arsenal. There were sloppy spells in possession and moments where control slipped away. David Raya was required to make key interventions, and Brighton’s pressure ensured the closing stages were tense.

Yet title races are rarely defined by style alone.

Arteta understands that the margins are narrowing with each passing week.

“It’s going to be like this,” he admitted. “The margins are so small. We did what we had to do — and that’s what we must continue to do.”

A Mentality Shift

Arsenal have navigated injuries and a demanding schedule, but they continue to accumulate points. That resilience, Arteta believes, reflects the culture embedded within the squad.

The message from the manager was clear: improvement is required — but the hunger is unquestionable.

With eight games remaining and the title race intensifying, Arsenal remain in control of their own destiny.

The performance may not have sparkled.

The mentality, however, shone brightly.

And according to their manager, that desire to win is “incredible.”

Want more Arsenal updates? Visit our homepage.