GUNNERS MUST WIN TO LOSE THEIR ‘BANG’ AVERAGE TAG
MIKEL ARTETA insists his project is on the verge of going “bang” – in a good way.
But he admits that unless Arsenal beat Olympiacos in their Europa League clash, it is hard for people outside the club to see how he is making any progress at all.
When the Greek side unexpectedly dumped the Gunners out of Europe in the round of 32 last year, they were higher up in the Premier League and on their way to winning the FA Cup.
Now 10th and out of all other competitions, the Europa
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League is Arteta’s one chance to show the club is moving in the right direction 15 months after he first took charge.
He said: “You need to win to convince anybody that you are doing a good job in the club and taking them in the right direction. If you are not inside the club every day and know exactly what is going on within, the only way to convince anybody is to win.
“It does not matter how well you play and if you deserve to win every match. If you don’t win, then we are not going to convince you or any fan that we are doing a great job.
“It is only about winning and that is the only way to convince people.
“This project is going to go ‘bang’, but sometimes it is difficult to see the moment now. But I’m sure where we are going. To start to have a
completely different context and framework to work in has been really challenging but, at the same time, it has made us, as a club, much stronger.
“We have created a strong group, a really strong bond with our players, with our fans, with our staff and that is going to pay some big tribute in the future.”
In fairness, the £45m invested in Thomas Partey (inset) is yet to pay dividends after a series of niggling injuries. However, the Ghana midfielder knows he has to start to deliver to get Arsenal to where they need to be.
“I am starting to get used to how my mates play and how the Premier League goes,” he said. “With time, everything will be good.
“We know this is a club that is supposed to be in the Champions League. It’s a bad situation that we are in now. It depends on us. We have this opportunity and try to make the most of it.”
Last season Arsenal crashed out on away goals after
Pierre-emerick Aubameyang missed an open goal with virtually the last kick of the tie.
Arsenal won the first leg in Greece 1-0 but at the Emirates Olympiacos snatched a 2-1 extra-time triumph with a goal in the 119th minute from Youssef El Arabi. The Moroccan striker will once more lead their line.
OLYMPIACOS (4-3-2-1): Sa; Lala; Sokratis, M’vila, Reabciuk; Camara, Bouchalakis; Valbuena, Fortounis, Bruma; El Arabi. ARSENAL (3-4-3): Leno; Cedric, Luiz, Mari, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Pepe; Aubameyang.
REFEREE: Daniel Siebert (Germany).
THE RIGHT DIRECTION: Boss Mikel Arteta wants to see progress on the pitch now
RYAN FRASER has warned relegationthreatened Newcastle they face a “must-win” clash with Aston Villa tomorrow.
The winger (right) claims their plight will look “brighter” if they can pull away from relegation rivals Fulham and Brighton.
He says they cannot be “moping” about just two wins in their last 18 matches and
by SIMON BIRD
believes they have played better in the last seven games. Fraser revealed that training has also improved “in the last two months”. Graeme Jones joined Steve Bruce’s staff in midjanuary to help overhaul tactics. And Fraser said: “We have to win the game. It is not a nice position to be in but we can’t mope about it. We’ve been so much better the last seven games.
“We’ll give everything and hopefully it will look brighter.”
Fraser, who has been injured and also not selected, now expects a run in the side with Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-maximin injured.
He added: “I want to try and get a run in the team, which I haven’t had.”