I KNOW THE SCORE
Arteta fears potent strike force has Tottenham ‘ better’ than Gunners for derby clash
TOTTENHAM V ARSENAL 4.30PM TOMORROW, SKY SPORTS
MIKEL ARTETA has conceded Tottenham deserve to be top because they are better than Arsenal.
It is a bold confession for an Arsenal manager just hours ahead of tomorrow’s north London derby.
But the brutally honest Spaniard admits Jose Mourinho’s team believe in what their manager is telling them to do – and stick to the plan even when things are going wrong.
And Gunners defender Hector Bellerin says calls for Arteta to be replaced are “unjust” and insisted the players have to take responsibility for their poor run.
Arteta’s troubled team have just two wins in their past eight league games and go into the derby in 14th place after their worst start to a Premier League season.
They received a boost on Thursday with a 4- 1 Europa League win over Rapid Vienna. It provided Alexandre Lacazette’s first goal in more than two months – which is timely given Arsenal’s record of just 10 goals from 10 league games. That contrasts starkly to the 21 goals scored by league leaders Tottenham, and Arteta said: “The table is like this because Tottenham deserve it more than us – and they’ve done things better than us.
“They have one of the most potent strike forces in Europe. They are in a great moment – they are full of confidence and you can see how much belief they have in what they do.
“It’s very early in the season to see who are title contenders or not. What we have to look at is where we will be after 38 games. After tomorrow, we want to be three points closer to them.”
Pressure has increased on Arteta, but Bellerin said: “That is so unjust. Players have to take responsibility. It’s very easy to blame the coach.
“How he changed the dynamic of the team and the club – he was amazing to get two trophies straight away. When you are changing the identity of the team, of the club – that isn’t something you can do overnight.”