Arteta: My masterplan shaping up

MIKEL ARTETA is pleased that his masterplan for the new Arsenal is starting to take shape.

The Spaniard was in the stands in December for his first game – a goalless draw – after succeeding Unai Emery.

Since then Arteta has lost just once in 11 games, winning five times and keeping four clean sheets compared to just one during the final two months of Emery’s reign.

The Gunners are finally winning away from home as well, with two victories from their last three games on the road compared to only three during Emery’s last four months.

The signs are promising for Arsenal fans, particularly after their knockout stage first-leg win over Greek champions Olympiakos on Thursday night.

Arteta said: “Honestly, we feel as a staff that the players are behind us and want to follow us.

“You try and convince them about what we are trying to do and they are doing everything they can to try and execute that. The energy we have is good.

“We have a long way to go in this process. We have to feel that we are ready to go, not just when we have the ball but when we don’t have it as well.

“But they are doing it and I can only praise them.”

Arteta is focused on enjoying facing one of his former clubs and he said: “I played there seven years I still have some great memories and friends.

“It was always special for me to play there and I’m really looking forward to it.”

ARSENAL secretly fear they could lose Gabriel Martinelli if they don’t secure Champions League football next season. The teen (left) was only drafted in from Brazilian outfit Ituano in the summer. But 10 goals in his first 22 games has put him firmly on the radar of some of the biggest and richest clubs in Europe. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are both monitoring his development.