Mikel Arteta is under tremendous pressure as Arsenal are struggling in the Premier League.
The start to the season has been the Gunners’ worst in over 50 years and it seems to be all on the manager to turn things around.
Facing a high-flying Chelsea on Boxing Day isn’t the most favourable tie but one Arsenal desperately need to win.
The Arsenal manager said, “At the moment, to keep the team together, to keep the team alive and to be a team, not a group of players, it takes a lot of energy because when you are losing football matches you have to lift them up, to get them together.
“You have to get them all being positive to each other, to not blame each other or any external factor when things are not going well.
“The best thing to do when you have a situation like that is to have the possibility to do things outside of the site, get them together in a change of environment, but at the moment, with COVID [restrictions], we cannot do it and probably we are not going to be able to do it in a while.
“We have to try other ways, but I have to say the players are really putting in a lot of energy enthusiasm not to lose what we are building, but it takes a lot of energy because we are losing games.
“Every game is a lot of weight on your shoulders, it’s a lot of disappointment and people are suffering. We are hurting and suffering and we have to get back, start believing again and try to push the players, then they respond and are excited for the game.
“The best medicine, better than anything than can happen outside of our facilities, is to win against Chelsea.”
Arsenal sit just four points above the relegation zone, a position not many predicted them to be in half-way through the 2020/21 season. Arteta still has the backing of the Gunners hierarchy to turn things around.
“I think the next seven to eight days are going to be crucial to see where we are going to be heading in the Premier League.” the Spaniard added.
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