Mikel Arteta is convinced Champions League football remains within Arsenal’s grasp and that a strong run on the resumption of their Premier League campaign would reignite their hopes of a return to Europe’s elite.
Arsenal are 10 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and it is some gap to make up over the next 13 games given they have won twice in the Premier League since 6 October, with their only back-to-back victories coming in the first fortnight of the campaign. Arteta, though, refuses to give up hope.
“At the moment we are far from it but there are a lot of games to play,” he said. “It is very tight. Everybody is giving points away. It will depend on us. If we are able to put three or four wins in a row, we will be much closer.”
Their cause would be improved, albeit very slightly, with three points at home to Newcastle on Sunday. That comes after a fortnight off, the past four days of which have been spent training in Dubai. Arteta oversaw nine games in all competitions in a hectic first six weeks after taking control in December and the winter break has presented his first opportunity to work intensively with the squad.
“It was like a mini pre-season,” he said before Arsenal’s return from the Middle East. “I wanted to use it to work on our principles and our styles of play, and as well how we live together. There are things I want to implement together as a group, not just for the players but for the staff as well. It has been really useful.”
Arsenal have lost once – albeit, perhaps crucially, at home against Chelsea – under Arteta’s charge and, while they have hardly been free-flowing, they do appear more disciplined and focused than in the latter days of Unai Emery’s tenure.
Arteta said the attitude of his players has taken him aback. “The biggest surprise and nicest surprise is the input the players put in – how much they are buying into what we do, the effort they are putting in and the willingness. They seem ready, with the right energy and commitment to move forward.”
Arteta outlined the main areas where he seeks improvement from Arsenal’s squad, who can expect significant changes in the summer regardless of their fortunes between now and May. “It is our principle, our style of play and how we manage the games, how we manage each section of the pitch and clarity. That the players have clarity, that they know and they can recognise the scenarios they are facing and they have the tools for the solutions.”
Asked what it would take for Arsenal to be a title-winning side again, Arteta replied: “Make 100 points? Maybe 105 points? We can do it in many different ways. At the moment we are far from it, but we need to go step by step because this club deserves nothing else than that.”
Emery questions attitude of Arsenal players
Unai Emery has accused some of his former players of not having “a good attitude” during his 18-month reign as Arsenal manager.
The Spaniard was relieved of his duties in November after a run of seven games in all competitions without a win. Emery departed amid claims that he had struggled to motivate the club’s biggest names, but has offered a defence of his time at the Emirates.
“Arsenal was a club on a downward slope for two years before I arrived,” Emery told France Football. “We stopped this fall and even began to rebuild the club with the Europa League final and fifth place in the league.”
“We had Champions League qualification in our grasp and it went wrong in the end. But it was a good season and we had this notion of continuing to improve,” Emery added. “But we lost our four captains: Koscielny, Cech, Ramsey and Monreal.
“They were personalities that we missed this season, and some stars did not have a good attitude and asked for more than what they were giving back. Taking all of that into account, we needed time to succeed with our transition to a new Arsenal, which is what I wanted.” PA Media