Fans turn on Arsenal after dismal start
➤ Arteta’s team suffer worst opening to season in 75 years ➤ Supporters vent their fury following defeat by arch rivals
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal’s supporters are still behind his side, even after they were booed off at the Emirates Stadium as defeat by Chelsea condemned them to their worst start to a season in 75 years.
First-half goals by Romelu Lukaku and Reece James mean the north London side have failed to register a point or a goal in their first two Premier League games.
Arsenal were jeered off at halftime and full time and now face a daunting trip to Manchester City on Saturday, but Arteta is adamant there were “positives” to take from the reaction of the crowd.
“I saw a lot of excitement and they tried to push the team,” the Spaniard said. “At 2-0, nobody is going to be happy, but in the second half they tried to be positive and the players talked about that. In the end, of course, they showed they were disappointed, but I saw a lot of positives with the crowd.”
New £50million signing Ben
White was missing through Covid19 and is unlikely to return in time for the trip to the Etihad Stadium, while Martin Odegaard had not been signed permanently in time to face Chelsea.
It means Arsenal were without nine players.
“It’s really challenging,” Arteta said. “We’re missing nine players. We put out a team and we played with a lot of courage in a situation that is tough.”
Asked if things should improve when players started to return, Arteta replied: “One hundred per cent.” Only once have Arsenal had a worse record two games into a season, in 1946 when they accrued no points and had a goal difference of
minus seven. This year they have conceded four goals.
“I will try to give them [the players] confidence and belief that football changes quickly and the table is not decided in August,” Arteta added. “I don’t want to see anyone feeling sorry for themselves.”
Arsenal legend Sol Campbell was less optimistic. The former England defender, a mainstay of the “Invincibles” side who won the title in 200304, fears that even the return of big names such as Alexandre Lacazette, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Magalhaes, White and Odegaard will not be enough to address the malaise.
“Two games, two losses, you have to somehow get the team working properly,” Campbell said on Sky Sports. “When you don’t have the quality you need to be solid. Be solid first then start building.
“There are players to come back in, but it seems when even players come back in it’s the same situation. I want to see that character.”
Lukaku described his second Chelsea debut, coming a few days short of 10 years since making his first appearance for the club, as “dominant”. The Belgian had failed to score in 15 appearances during his first spell at Chelsea, but made the perfect start to his return by scoring and being involved in the second goal, netted by James.
“I try to improve every time,” Lukaku, 28, said. “I have a long way to go, but it was good to win and we need to keep getting stronger because the Premier League is very competitive, but we’re ready for the challenge and, hopefully, can improve.”
Thomas Tuchel, the Chelsea head coach, was delighted with Lukaku’s start. “It’s the package that’s so exciting,” he said. “His age, his experience and he is a Chelsea fan. It’s always been his dream to make it at this club. During his time away, his personality grew and now he trusts in himself.
“I am very happy with how he has integrated already, a very smart guy who likes to be in the group. He is a very democratic leader, talks to everyone, friendly and is totally competitive. He gives us something we did not have.”