Reuters

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LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Arsenal's growing capacity to win without being at their best, as they did in a hard-fought derby at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, could prove the difference as they attempt to finally overhaul Premier League champions Manchester City.

Manager Mikel Arteta said his side were rewarded for doing "ugly things" to triumph thanks to yet another goal conceded from a corner by their bitter local rivals.

And, having nearly blown a 3-0 lead before clinging on for a 3-2 win in their last meeting in April, Arteta said he saw signs of progress in how the Gunners managed the closing stages.

The Arsenal manager said he was far calmer on Sunday "because after 0-3 to 2-3 (in the last game) you say, this cannot happen".

He told reporters: "They threw everything at it, they tried today but I think we looked more composed, better organised and gave very, very little away."

Having lost captain Martin Odegaard to injury and Declan Rice through suspension, with new signing Mikel Merino yet to make his debut due to a fractured shoulder, Arsenal's makeshift midfield was largely assured against a wasteful Spurs side.

Arteta hailed the depth of the team and their ability to grind out results, a quality that was arguably lacking at times in their recent title challenges.

"In order to love the game and win, you have to do a lot of things that sometimes people call them ugly and enjoying doing those ugly things is a big compliment for this team," he said.

A north London derby will always feel like a must-win game, but victory felt almost essential for Arsenal who before kickoff trailed Manchester City by five points.

With City having earned 91 points on average in the last three seasons, Arsenal's trip to the Etihad next Sunday could have been make or break for their title credentials.

Instead, with a gritty three points in the bag, Arsenal will travel north with a chance to go top of the league.

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Sept 12 (Reuters) - The Football Association have charged Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur after the Uruguayan made a racist remark about South Korean people when talking about his teammate Son Heung-min during a television appearance.

Bentancur, 27, has until Sept. 19 to respond to the charge.

Earlier in June, Bentancur apologised after his comments were met with disapproval and Son accepted his apology, "Lolo would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers and nothing has changed at all," Son said.

On Uruguayan television programme Por La Camiseta, host Rafa Cotelo asked Bentancur for a Spurs player's shirt, to which he replied, "Sonny's?", adding: "It could be Sonny's cousin too as they all look the same."

"It's alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought into disrepute," the governing body said in a statement on Thursday.

The FA added that Bentancur's comments were an "aggravated breach... as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin."

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Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru Editing by Toby Davis

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