SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 9 hrs
Upcoming predictions and previews

Mikel Arteta admits he questioned himself during "draining" run

:Headline: Mikel Arteta admits he questioned himself during 'draining' run: ID:428234: from db_amp
The Gunners ended a seven-match winless run on Boxing Day.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admits he questioned himself every day during a "draining" run of defeats which were "frustrating and painful".

A 3-1 Boxing Day win over London rivals Chelsea saw the Gunners pick up their first Premier League victory since November 1.

Arteta's side had taken just two points from the seven previous fixtures before goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka proved enough to get them back to winning ways.

Arsenal now have a run of league games that will have been identified internally as winnable fixtures – a trip to Brighton on Tuesday then away at West Brom followed by visits from Crystal Palace and Newcastle.

But the recent gloom over the Emirates Stadium has not been completely cleared yet and Arteta spoke about how he was left second-guessing his decisions during their torrid spell of form.

"I question myself every day," he said. "Since I arrived here, first of all I had to analyse really well what was happening, what we can and cannot do.

"Obviously results-wise in the last few weeks we have all been suffering, I have been suffering. I feel very responsible for that.

"The worst feeling is because I want to do so well for this football club and at the moment we are in, I want to bring all my passion, the knowledge that I have, the right intentions to move as quickly as we possibly can as a football club.

Arsenal produced a fine display to beat Chelsea (Julian Finney/PA)

"In order to do that we need to win football matches, to be stable and win some time. When I don't, I feel like I am letting the club down and the people that work for us, and obviously our fans."

Arteta also admitted to having sleepless nights as he fathomed out a way to halt the alarming slide in performances and results.

The former Arsenal captain is a year into his first managerial role and, despite delivering the FA Cup in August, was starting to feel the pressure given such a barren spell.

"It is draining, it is frustrating and it is painful," he added.

"At the same time I know we have to fight our way back. In difficult moments is when you see the right people, they give me a lot of encouragement because I see people that are willing to fight with me, with the people that we have here. It gives me energy every day to carry on doing it.

"It is a 24/7 job. As well a lot of things externally, very challenging. A lot of issues and then when results hit you like that you can sometimes not find the right reasons to understand why we are losing football matches, when we produce what we produce.

"It is a big headache. But as well it is the beauty of this game, to find ways of doing things in a different way.

"My responsibility is to motivate the players as much as possible, to keep them united, to keep the team spirit alive, even when you are not winning matches.

“It is draining, it is frustrating and it is painful”
- Mikel Arteta

"When you are frustrated and sad, you have to find all the time somewhere to do that. My way has been my family and all the people that are here with me at the club, the board, Edu, they have all been super supportive and that has helped me a lot."

Asked whether he found being in the dugout more tiring than playing the game, Arteta's answer was unequivocal: "The simple answer is managing.

"Because you have a lot of people around you that you have to take care of. I always say you have 70 hearts in the training ground and stadium that you have to look after everyday.

"Every decision you make has an impact on their lives, their mood and the next day. So you are very aware of that and you get attached emotionally to them and I'm attached emotionally to this football club."

amp_article__428234 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-12-28 12:09:17:
html db last update - 2021-03-10 19:36:43 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Mikel Arteta

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .