Mikel Arteta has firmly rejected the label of "bottlers" for his Arsenal squad, despite the team's recent setback in the Premier League title race. The Gunners, who are vying for the league title, squandered a two-goal lead against bottom-of-the-table Wolves on Wednesday, a result that has seemingly handed the initiative back to their fierce rivals, Manchester City. Should Pep Guardiola's side secure victories in all their remaining 12 league fixtures, including a crucial encounter against Arsenal at the Etihad in April, they will be crowned champions.

This latest stumble has drawn parallels to Arsenal's recent history, where they have finished as runners-up for the past three seasons. Following the 2-2 draw at Molineux, fresh accusations of the team being "bottlers" have emerged. However, Arteta robustly addressed these claims, stating, "That's individual opinion, and you have to respect that. You lose two points against Wolves in the manner that the game played out, and you have to take it on the chin. That's it. It's part of our role. But 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 as an intention. I wouldn't use that word."

Despite dropping points, Arsenal currently maintain a five-point lead at the top of the table, though they have played one more game than Manchester City. The team is now preparing for a challenging London derby against Tottenham on Sunday, a match that will be critical for their morale and title aspirations.

Beyond their league form, Arsenal have shown considerable strength in other competitions this season. They have advanced to the final of the Carabao Cup next month and are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, having achieved a perfect record by winning all eight of their group matches. Additionally, they are heavy favorites to reach the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, with a fifth-round tie against Mansfield scheduled for March.

However, recent league performances have come under increasing scrutiny, with Arteta's side securing only two wins in their last seven Premier League games. Taking full responsibility for any instances where the team has not met its standards, Arteta reiterated, "When we haven't been at our standards, I take full responsibility for that. I don't think I have ever pointed at a single player or the team." He acknowledged the dip in performance during the second half against Wolves, attributing it partly to the demanding schedule, and emphasized his leadership role in such situations.

Arteta urged his team to focus on the present, describing their current position as "beautiful" across all competitions. He highlighted the "tremendous reaction" he has observed from his players and expressed his eagerness to see how they will "write our own destiny from here going forward." In terms of team news for the upcoming Spurs clash, key players Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz, who were absent at Molineux due to injury, both have an outside chance of being available. "We have to wait until tomorrow but there is a big possibility that they are available," Arteta confirmed.