Mikel Arteta admits that while he cannot fault his Arsenal team for the effort, their current performances in the Premier League are “not good enough.”  The Gunners are without a win in all of their last six outings in the league, a run which included a timid North London Derby defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Tottenham. 

That awful form has seen them drop as low as 15th in the standings, just five points clear of the relegation zone with 12 games played. 

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Arteta as a result has seen his position called into question just one year after taking over, and the manager is anxious for Arsenal to turn the corner.  “We have faced one of the most challenging and difficult years in our history. We have made a lot of progress and implemented a lot of things that are working really well,” the Spaniard signaled in an interview with Sky Sports. 

“The biggest highlights are the two trophies we won in this period, but at the same time, these last results in the Premier League have taken the gloss off the progress and all the work that we have done. And we know that it is not good enough.

“I have zero doubts about what the players are trying to do. We are all united, we are all ready to fight against the cause. “Things have been difficult, many different circumstances have put us in this situation – the number of suspensions we are getting, the injuries, some of the changes, and the way we have lost football matches.

“But this is the reality and what you cannot fault is the spirit, the fight, and the togetherness around the team.” There was some cheer midweek at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal fought back to claim a point after going down to Southampton, a result that Arteta believes speaks volumes about the Gunners’ spirit.

“Normally in difficult moments is when you see the real people, personal and professional, and it is a necessary thing to go through for a team, as well as a club,” he added. “I’m saying as a club as well because in these moments is when you really see who we are. When things are going well, it is really easy to be supportive and being in the photograph.”

“But when things are not going well, then that is when you have got to be prepared to do that – first of all, to defend our players as much as possible and give them confidence, and as I’ve said, they have to take on responsibility on the pitch and get the results that we need.” Arsenal is back in action on Saturday when they visit Everton at Goodison Park.

Goal.com