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LONDON. — Mikel Arteta has admitted his Arsenal side had to fight off a sickness bug to seal a 2-0 victory over Wolves to move five points clear at the top of the English Premier League football table on Saturday night.
A second-half double from Martin Odegaard was enough to win at Wolves, the Gunners’ 12th victory in their first 14 games to become Christmas No. 1 — a position from which no English Premier League side has failed to win the title. The team, however, were hit by a sickness bug affecting a small number of players from the pre-match meal, which eventually led to Granit Xhaka lasting only 15 minutes at Molineux. “(Xhaka) wasn’t feeling good, he was sick and he could not carry on,” Arteta told Sky Sports after the match.
“Unfortunately, we have another four players with the same symptoms. So, I don’t know what exactly happened.
“There were a few players who were not feeling great but obviously make three or four substitutions at that period.
Despite the illness, boss Arteta also hailed his side for defying all expectations as they head into the World Cup break comfortably at the top of the league table.
“Nobody expected us to be where we are right now and the amount of games we managed to win,” said Arteta. “I’m more focused on the way we’re playing, the atmosphere we have here and at Colney, the relationship with our supporters. That’s much more powerful.”
Arsenal’s lead is their biggest at the top since December 2013 when they went on to finish fourth, seven points behind champions Manchester City. And it was aided by City’s 2-1 defeat earlier in the day by Brentford, which the team watched together as they look to out-run Pep Guardiola’s side.
But they were in higher spirits when watching Ivan Toney’s late winner for Brentford.
“You can imagine (their reaction),” said Arteta. “That’s the way that you live in this league, that’s the beauty.
“The competition is that big that you’re always looking at your opponents. I did it in every team I’ve been in, it’s natural, but then you have to focus on your own performance.”
Arteta said he is hoping the World Cup break does not impede Arsenal’s momentum, after the north London club defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday to take a five-point lead at the top of the English Premier League.
Captain Odegaard scored both goals as Arsenal beat Wolves to get to 37 points, extending their lead over second-placed Manchester City, who lost at home to Brentford earlier in the day. There will be a mid-season break after yesterday’s fixtures to accommodate the World Cup, which runs from November 20 to December 18 in Qatar. The league will resume on Boxing Day.
“I would train tomorrow but unfortunately they’re not here,” Arteta told the BBC. “I wish those going to the World Cup the best and they will look after themselves — I hope they enjoy it because it doesn’t get better than playing for your country. “I don’t know (if the World Cup will disrupt flow), I’ll touch wood and hope for the best. When everyone is back we’ll assess where we are and go from there.”
Despite his concerns over the mid-season break, Arteta added that it would provide Arsenal an opportunity to reflect and prepare for the second half of the season.
“It’s great to be where we are and we are enjoying that moment,” Arteta told a news conference. “Now we have a big break and we have to reflect on what we’re doing and be prepared for after the World Cup…
“When a team is in that moment you want to carry on playing of course, but that’s not possible. We have to use that time as best as possible.” Arsenal return to action when they host West Ham United in the league on December 26. — dailymail.
Online Reporter