We all have to ‘take the bullets’, admits Arteta
MIKEL ARTETA has urged critics to blame him for Arsenal’s slump but is confident his side are not being dragged into a relegation fight.
The Gunners host high-flying Southampton tonight lying sixth from bottom of the Premier League after losing seven of their first 12 games. This includes defeats in their last four home league games but Arteta, who reaches a year as Arsenal boss on Sunday, is confident of reviving their fortunes.
‘I want to think we are in a blip but we need to start to win,’ he said. ‘Just dropping and dropping down the table is not the situation we want to be in.
‘This is our reality right now and we have to face it being brave, fighting and no one giving up or anything.
‘It’s not time to hide, it’s time to put your face and your body on the line and at the moment, I’m sorry, but we have to take the bullets.
‘We are not winning football matches and I have to put my chest there and you have to hit me. You have the right
When we’re not winning i have to put my chest there and you have to hit me
to hit me because I’m not winning. What else can I do? Put my head down, work harder and try to do things better and improve.
‘I accept the criticism and it’s part of the job. When you’re not getting results, it is the manager who has the maximum responsibility.
‘You have to win football matches and this club is too big to accept this many losses in the last weeks. So my chest is here and hit me, guys.’
Arteta has received public support from Arsenal technical director Edu plus Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and believes he still retains the backing of his players.
‘My feeling is yes but this is a question for them obviously,’ he said.
‘When I see the reaction and the way they try, there’s not one bit that worries me that they’re not trying their best, that’s for sure.
‘Edu and Pep obviously showed their appreciation, because in good moments it’s very easy. In difficult moments when you have people like them giving you support it’s much appreciated.’
RALPH HASENHUTTL insists it would be ‘stupid’ to think Southampton could go to struggling Arsenal as favourites. The Saints head for the Emirates tonight sitting in fourth place and ten points better off than the Gunners. However, despite the pressure mounting on opposite number Mikel Arteta, Hasenhuttl is refusing to be taken in by the hosts’ difficulties. Asked if his side would run out favourites, he said: ‘No. I don’t think anybody expects we’ll go there and dominate them. It would be stupid to think it. I don’t feel we are favourites going to Arsenal. The mentality must be that we are convinced about what we are doing and find a good balance of not forgetting the basics which have brought us to this situation.’