Mikel Arteta has declared that Arsenal rediscovered their identity during a spirited comeback victory over Leeds United, revealing that the squad felt compelled to respond after their character was called into question following the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Arsenal manager suggested that losing to Brighton & Hove Albion had placed his team under scrutiny, with the manner of that result prompting doubts about who Arsenal truly are as a side. Arteta, however, insisted that the performance against Leeds United provided the answer.

The win required Arsenal to dig deep and demonstrate the resilience and conviction that Arteta has long sought to make the hallmark of his project at the club. For the manager, the result was about far more than three points — it was a statement about the team's values and their ability to fight back when challenged.

Arteta has consistently emphasised the importance of identity throughout his tenure at Arsenal, building a squad around intensity, togetherness, and a clear tactical philosophy. When results go against them, it is those qualities that he demands his players fall back on — and he believes they did exactly that against Leeds United.

The victory will provide a timely boost to Arsenal's confidence as they push forward in what remains a demanding season. Arteta's ability to frame setbacks as motivation, and to demand an immediate response from his players, has been one of the defining features of his management style at the club.