Mikel Arteta has conceded that Arsenal face a “crucial week” as they prepare to welcome Chelsea to The Emirates on Saturday, adding that things “have to change dramatically” as he chases his first league win since the beginning of November.
Arsenal go into the weekend 15th in the table and four points above the relegation zone. They haven’t won in seven games in the Premier League, while they were beaten 4-1 by Manchester City in the League Cup on Tuesday.
Asked whether the defeat to City had further damaged his team’s shattered confidence, Arteta said: “We have to draw a line [under it]… we have a crucial week this week, we have to stand up and we have to pick up the points.
“We are trying to respond every week and for different reasons we are not picking up results. It happened the last time against Burnley in a game we should be winning, it happened against Southampton, it happened against Everton and we have to turn things around.
“This bad luck or these [other] things that are affecting our results have to change dramatically, because with those margins it’s very complicated to win matches in the Premier League.
“We have the opportunity on a very special day here at home against Chelsea, so let’s do it.”
‘The best medicine is to win’
Pressed on whether a lack of self-belief is one of the biggest barriers to Arsenal ending their winless run, he said: “The best boost, the best medicine in this situation is to win a football match. Every defeat is another hurtful moment, another moment of disappointment, another moment where you have to lift yourself up and that takes a lot of energy.
“I think the best medicine for all of us would be to come here against Chelsea, beat them and move from there. That’s exactly what we all need.”
Arsenal’s last meeting with Chelsea was a 2-1 win in the FA Cup final, though their old rivals have since spent well over £200m in the transfer market.
“Obviously Chelsea always have great players and a great squad. The team that we faced a few months ago was a top one. In this moment, you’re probably talking about the strongest squad in the Premier League.
“I think Frank [Lampard] is doing a really good job… it’s a team which is going to be fighting with the top teams in the league, for sure.”
After Chelsea, Arsenal face Brighton and West Brom in what are now seriously being talked about as relegation fixtures. Asked whether the next three games are crucial to avoid being dragged into a relegation fight for the rest of the season, Arteta said: “Yes, absolutely. I think the next seven or eight days and going to be crucial to see where we’re going to be heading in the Premier League.
“I don’t make any excuses. I think I’ve been very clear in many moments that we are losing football matches, it is my responsibility to put that right and, regardless what [our opponents] do, it’s been us [that] have let ourselves down and it’s down to us to change it.”
When it was put to Arteta that he has been deliberately shielding his players from criticism, he said: “[That’s] because I have to and I will keep doing it when I see that they are really trying and they are trying to do their best. Then mistakes, errors, whatever happens, I will support them until the last day.
“That is the way I believe that I have to do it. Of course, they have to play on the pitch and they have to put in the performances.
“We are here to help them as much as possible. We have to accept that, at the moment, it’s nowhere near enough.”
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