Mikel Arteta says 'Arsenal must act, not talk' in Tottenham Derby clash

Arsenal had thrown away a two-goal lead against Wolves, leaving the Gunners frustrated but still top of the Premier League with 58 points from 27 games, five ahead of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Speaking to Arsenal Media, Arteta stressed the importance of turning reflection into action: "We need to go through the pain and go through it looking in the mirror and understand what the game requires now, and the next action is Sunday. We need to keep all that in our tummies to show it on Sunday."

He sees the trip to Spurs as the perfect opportunity to respond. "Our away game at Spurs is the perfect chance to show how much we want it and how good we are. That's all that matters - let's speak through our performance on the pitch," he added, underlining that results must come from action, not words.

Arteta also emphasised the need to rise to the occasion in high-pressure moments: "You need to rise when the team faces a tough moment. If you are at the top you have to win and win, that's nothing new."

The stakes are high in the derby, and Arteta has previously highlighted its significance: "The nicest game of the season to watch because of the atmosphere, what it means to our people, what it means to us and everybody involved."

Tottenham head into the fixture under new manager Igor Tudor, who replaced Thomas Frank and will be eager to make an early impact. Arsenal, meanwhile, know that focus, resilience, and discipline will be essential if they are to maintain their Premier League advantage and respond convincingly after recent setbacks.

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