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Arteta dismisses 'bottlers' tag but admits Arsenal must accept title scrutiny

The Premier League leaders dropped more valuable points in the title race after taking a two-goal lead against Rob Edwards' relegation-bound side, conceding two avoidable late goals after strikes from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie had given the Gunners a comfortable advantage.

Speaking at his press conference on Friday ahead of Arsenal's trip to north London rivals Spurs this weekend, Arteta refused to be drawn into media hyperbole.

"That's individual opinion and perspective. You have to respect that. That's what I said after the (Wolves) press conference; if you lose two points against Wolves in the manner that the game played out, you have to take it on the chin," said Arteta.

"That's it. It's part of our role. It's not part of my vocabulary, and I don't see it like this because I don't think anybody wants to do that (throw a lead away) as an intention. I wouldn't use that word, but that's me."

Arsenal were dismal in the draw at Molineux and put in possibly their worst performance of the season, but Arteta insisted that he did not want to "scream and shout" at his players at full-time.

"The way I interact with them, the way I communicate with them, the way I try to support them and make them feel that I'm here and that we are all here. It's not that I love them – we love them," Arteta said, referring to the love the club as a collective gives to the playing squad.

"It's impossible not to. When you are ten minutes in that dressing room and in and around the building, it is impossible not to believe me. I think when you try hard, I think they will win (your love)."

Arteta has divided opinion amongst rival fans since his arrival in 2019, often being an animated figure on the touchline in an attempt to get messages to his players and raise the atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium.

When asked if he had changed his approach to get the best out of his players over the last couple of seasons, Arteta said: "When we haven't been at our standards, I take full responsibility for that. I don't think I have ever pointed a single player out here or the team. I can talk about the standards, yes, because in the second half (against Wolves) we weren't at our standards, which is normal when we play the amount of games that we have played as well.

"But if there are any critics or anyone responsible, that's me."

The Gunners make the short trip to face fierce rivals Spurs on Sunday up against a potential new manager bounce as Igor Tudor takes charge of his first match as interim boss.

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