Arsenal Fans Will Need To Be Patient With Mikel Arteta

Gary Neville believes Mikel Arteta has given Arsenal a direction but fans need to be patient in terms of results.

The Gunners crashed out of the Europa League after a 1-2 defeat at the Emirates, losing on away goal advantage to Olympiacos.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said, “Arsenal have threatened to be better under Mikel Arteta, with a lot of draws and perhaps they haven’t got the victories they would have wanted.

“There have been improvements in defence, up until Sunday, where they reverted to type with some really sloppy play. Everton could have scored three or four goals in that last 10 or 15 minutes.

“We always expect a bounce from new managers. You can spot the differences in Arsenal since Arteta took over. Arteta is trying to build from a base whereby his team have been shambolic defensively all season, trying to correct that. You have to try and stop the conceding of goals initially.

“Arsenal are well away from getting to the top, top level, and we can’t expect too many changes overnight, just small steps in the right direction.

“It’s key to get the right players in the right positions, and cover up the weaknesses, which is what Arteta is trying to do; play a system that covers for the fact his centre-backs still struggle defensively and his goalkeeper as well at times.”