ARTETA DITCHES THE ‘ARSENAL WAY’ TO FIND A WINNING WAY

MIKEL ARTETA admits he has had to abandon the Arsenal Way to achieve success against some of the Premier League’s big hitters.

The Gunners face reigning champions Liverpool tonight having beaten them in their last two meetings.

But they didn’t manage more than 40 per cent of possession in either game.

It is a far cry from the way Arsene Wenger’s teams used to dominate the ball but not always make their passing advantage count.

Arteta said: “Sometimes it’s what you want to do as a coach and sometimes it’s what you are allowed to do with the levels of players and performance that top teams can do against you.

“I think they were different games. The ones you mention we had very long periods where we had to defend deeper than we would like to.

“But we have to prepare the games finding scenarios to win. I’m here to win. I’m here to find ways to do it.

“If I am proposing something very difficult that is exposing our team right now, I don’t think I’m acting in the best favour of the club or the players.

“We have to be able to adapt. I think in football now one way doesn’t work unless you are superior to the opponent all the time.”

Arsenal’s stats since Arteta came in show sequences of 10 or more passes have fallen, and they are also pressing opponents less.

But along with a league win over

GUN METTLE Arsenal are working hard in training under Arteta to make themselves harder to beat

Liverpool in July and a Community Shield victory over them this season, they have also beaten Manchester City and Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Arteta said: “Obviously results are driving belief. The plan we put in place, they have to be comfortable with that.

“They have to realise we can achieve what we want when we jump on the pitch, because then they will feel more secure and know what is going to happen, so it doesn’t surprise them or shock them.”

Arteta also praised Liverpool’s strategy in the transfer market – as Arsenal prepare a second bid for Lyon’s Houssem Aouar after failing with a £30million offer.

That was laughed off by the French club’s president JeanMichel Aulas as “too far away from Houssem’s value” this weekend. Lyon rate Aouar at closer to £45m.

Arteta (left) said of Liverpool: “We are in different moments as clubs, with the success they had and how stable they have been in the Champions League and Premier League.

“We just try to get the right momentum by doing the deals we believe are going to make us stronger with the resources we have.

“Trophies help, absolutely. It gives you the financial power but, what you have to do as well is recruit the right players. Liverpool have done both.

“They generated finances because of the performances on the pitch, because of how they’ve grown over the years and because they have implemented a vision and a strategy.”