After recovering from the setback of losing a two-goal lead against Leicester City, Mikel Arteta was proud of the attitude of his two players and the Emirates Stadium crowd to win the game again 4-2.

After James Justin’s brace brought the visitors back to level, a series of incredible saves from Foxes keeper Mads Hermansen kept denying us and in second half stoppage time we found ourselves with two points down.

But Mikel was pleased that both his players and the home fans refused to accept fate and that was rewarded when Leandro Trossard forced Wilfred Ndidi into an own goal before Kai Havertz secured the win.

“You can start feeling sorry for yourself – what else do I have to do to win?” Mikel pondered after the game. “No, we have to do more because what we have done is not enough. Having that mentality, determination and perseverance is really impressive because here it’s easy to say but outside it’s very difficult to do it.”

“I think our fans, the audience, were exceptional in this and created an atmosphere of belief, energy and not your average fear of nervousness or uncertainty. Thank you very much because you helped the team a lot to get the points.

“I’m really happy, very happy with the performance, the attitude of the team and the way we played and dominated the game.

“I’m particularly pleased with the way the team responded when things got very difficult, conceding two really unexpected goals that put the game in jeopardy. We – the audience included – showed incredible emotional control, a lot of belief and clarity in what we were continually doing, and, in the end, a lot of courage to find a way to win it.”

Things were looking bright at half-time as goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Trossard put us in control, but some sloppiness at the start of the second 45 minutes would eventually allow Steve Cooper’s side to regain their footing in the competition.

With the lead dwindled, the coach was happy that his team was able to stay on top of things, regroup and feel like they could regroup to win back the two points they had lost and move level with the league leaders after six games.

Looking back on the changes in the second half, he added: “We gave the ball away, there’s a counterattack, a free kick, and on top of that there was a deflection, the ball goes in, that’s one.” Worst options, the second half to start. The second time they scored, it was a world goal from Justin, so shake our hands and say well done and we have to play the game again.

“Emotionally you are in a completely different position – you are expecting it or were there a few minutes before. But if you want to win in any context, you have to be able to do things like that. The team has once again shown another step, another level of development and I’m really happy.”