ART ATTACK

Ruthless Mikel: Show fight or you’re finished

MIKEL ARTETA has told his players to show bravery and passion for his Arsenal revolution – or get out.

He demanded a change in culture at the club and warned he was prepared to be “ruthless” in his first job as head coach.

“I don’t want people hiding,” said the Spaniard, who takes

charge with Arsenal 10th in the Premier League and with one win in 12. “I want people to take responsibility for their jobs and I want people who deliver passion and energy in the football club. “Anyone who doesn’t buy into this, or that has a negative effect or whatever, isn’t good enough for this environment or this culture.”

Arteta, assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, agreed a deal until 2023. He added: “There are things to change, absolutely, because they’re not performing at the level we expect them to. I’d like to understand why they’re not performing, what is lacking and what their needs are. And with the way of us behaving and playing, to say, ‘Wow, now I understand, I click, I feel comfortable. Let’s go for it’. If I get to that point, I can help them. Then they will trust me and then they will follow me.” Mesut Ozil (above) has frustrated fans and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is stalling on a new deal over the lack of Champions League football. “It’s important what those senior players are bringing to the table as we need to generate role models and people have to follow those leaders,” said Arteta. Of Ozil, he added: “He’s a massive player. I know when he clicks, what he can bring to the team. It’s my job to get the best out of him.” Asked what he learned from Guardiola, he said: “That you have to be ruthless, you have to be consistent and you have to fit every day the culture of the club to create a winning mentality. When you do that, you’re a team.” Former England coach Steve Round is set to join Arteta’s staff.