We took a point from an end-to-end encounter away to Liverpool on Saturday, and afterwards Mikel Arteta was hugely proud of his team’s effort.
Liverpool had only dropped two points at home all season going into this game, with both sides gunning for top spot in the Premier League.
And after an eventful 90 minutes, we secured the draw that keeps us top going into Christmas.
“(It was) an unbelievable game of football,” the boss said afterwards.
“One of the most intense, active games that I have witnessed in 20 years in this league, and I'm just really proud of the team because they really were at the best today.
“We have the level, we have raised the level to the level that we needed to compete with them. What the boys did in this ground today, it’s phenomenal.”
The manager added there was an element of regret among his players in the dressing room after the game, for not taking all three points.
“They left everything (out there) but the feeling in the last 20 minutes was that we're dominant enough to put a chance away and win the game. But overall, I think it's a fair result.”
So for the second year in a row, we will be top of the tree on Christmas Day, with West Ham next in line at Emirates Stadium on December 28.
“I think we all deserve to have a day off,” the boss said, “and have a beautiful dinner with our families and celebrate as well with my little ones, Santa and go back to West Ham because that's going to be an intense match again.”
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