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Mikel Arteta during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium, London, October 2022.

Watch: Mikel Arteta makes Arsenal fans swoon before Saka penalty

Despite some rocky patches, Mikel Arteta has definitely won himself a place in the hearts of Arsenal supporters following their stunning start to the Premier League season – as one intimate moment during their win over Liverpool demonstrated.

The Gunners clinched an eighth victory of the season and reclaimed top spot in the Premier League after Bukayo Saka’s winner from the penalty spot ended Liverpool’s challenge after they fought back from a goal down twice at a feverish Emirates Stadium.

Arteta called on his players to give the Arsenal faithful something to cheer about and his side did just that with a memorable victory that further fuelled the lofty expectations growing in north London.

“Thank you so much to the boys and our supporters for experiencing an afternoon like this,” Arteta said after the match. “It’s why we are here, and I really enjoyed it, especially the way we won.

“I’ve never seen it like this. You cannot imagine how much it helps the players and how much belief and confidence, how much support… it’s one of the nicest things we’ve done since we’ve been together here – to unite everybody and feel like you go here and you’re going to have some experience. It’s great.

“The feeling of winning is so powerful and so meaningful for me today for me, I saw a team I really identify with, the personality they show in difficult moments, how they stick to what they have to do.

“But, at the same time, the belief, the courage, and the free mind to just go for it and attack them and put them under pressure.”

And one moment during Sunday’s match illustrated why Arteta has won over the Arsenal fans. As Saka lined up his penalty, the Gunners boss was caught muttering ‘Allex, Bukayo, allez’ in a moment of quiet hope.

Watch his face when the ball goes in, and the crowd behind him, and realise that Arteta’s standing at the Emirates couldn’t be any higher right now.


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