Spurs star admits Arsenal are superior in multiple areas | OneFootball

Dejan Kulusevski has admitted Arsenal are more disciplined and mature than Tottenham Hotspur, and that’s why only one of the two are title contenders.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Declan Rice of Arsenal is challenged by Dejan Kulusevski of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 28, 2024. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

For the second season in a row, Arsenal went to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and won last weekend, ultimately grinding out a 3-2 victory that had initially looked comfortable at 3-0.

Speaking after the game, Spurs winger Dejan Kulusevski put the result down to Arsenal’s superior discipline and maturity, admitting his team failed to show strength on set-pieces.

“They are much more disciplined and a little bit more mature,” Kulusevski said.

“That is where we are lacking at the moment. What do I mean by that? They score on corners. We concede. It is quite easy. It is being strong in difficult moments like a set piece.”

LONDON, ENGLAND: Kai Havertz of Arsenal scores his team’s third goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 28, 2024. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Kulusevski went on to add that Arsenal are consistently showing their strengths regardless of the opponent, suggesting that’s why the Gunners are title contenders and Ange Postecoglou’s team aren’t.

“You can be how good you want in football but you’ve got to be strong in every situation,” Kulusevski argued.

“Arsenal have obviously done that in the last period. They fight to win the league. We still have to do that.

“You can see on their second goal, it is too easy. A long ball from Kai to Saka and it is 2-0. Of course we have to improve on that.”

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 28, 2024. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

It must be particularly frustrating for Kulusevski watching Arsenal succeed at Spurs’ expense, given he was an Arsenal fan before he joined their north London rivals.

The Gunners were fairly heavily linked with the Swedish international ahead of that transfer to Spurs, and he must wish he could have made the move to the superior club.

Instead, he’s had to put his fandom to one side to play for their rivals, only to watch Arsenal pull ahead.