Mikel Arteta has called for “love” even when Arsenal lose or draw.
The Premier League leaders have drawn successive Premier League matches against Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and have won just two of their last seven league games.
“That’s what we are trying to do,” the Arsenal manager said when asked if the aim was to use the emotions from full-time at Molineux on Wednesday in a positive way.
“The instant reaction first of all is pain and after that, it’s what can I do about it. That’s it. Now what we have to do is perform on the pitch. The words are clear.
“I was a player, love me when I draw and when I lose. To love when I win is very, very easy. You have to love the players and be next to them when they need it the most.”
Frustrations boiled over after the full-time whistle at Molineux both on the pitch, with Gabriel Jesus pushing Yerson Mosquera.
Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Premier League, but Manchester City have a game in hand, and the two sides still have to meet in April after March’s Carabao Cup final between the pair.
“That was a chapter,” Arteta added on the Wolves draw. “We have a long season — chapter 27 says we drew against Wolves in this manner.
“What I’m interested in is the next one. Is what we are made of. What do we do about this and how we write our own destiny from here and going forward. You have to react to that because life moves on. The result unfortunately has to stay as it was, there is nothing we can do. It’s (about) what is going to happen next.”
This is the second time in as many months that Arteta has issued a rally cry of sorts. The first came after Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United in January, which rounded off a run of three league games without a win.
In the days after that result, he urged everybody associated with Arsenal to “enjoy the moment”.
This weekend’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur provides an excellent opportunity to bring that joy back.
Leandro Trossard is available after coming off late on at Wolves, and when asked about Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard (who have both missed the last couple of matches), Arteta said: “We have to wait until tomorrow but there is a big possibility that they are available.”
