Arteta ‘aware of how difficult it is to keep winning’ as Arsenal look to extend incredible run
Arteta: We are very aware of how difficult it is to keep winning
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Mikel Arteta understands the difficulty in every game that Arsenal face as their challenge on multiple fronts continues to gain momentum.The Gunners sit top of the Premier League and six points clear of Manchester City in second place, while they are also three wins from three in the UEFA Champions League.Led by their watertight defence, Arsenal did not ship a goal in any competition in October, last conceding in the 2-1 win over Newcastle United on September 28.
In total, Arsenal have conceded just three goals in 15 matches in all competitions, all of which came in the Premier League.
As they turn their eyes back to UEFA Champions League action with the daunting trip to Slavia Prague, The Gunners are one of two teams yet to concede in the competition, alongside last season’s runners-up Internazionale.
Unsurprisingly, Arteta is pleased with the start to the season but he is looking at the opening three months in a pragmatic way and insists the biggest challenges are yet to come.
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“We are where we want to be in the Premier League, Champions League and the Carabao Cup, the three competitions that we have been involved in and continued the good momentum we are in,” he told TNT Sports.
“We know the difficulty of the match tomorrow, especially the atmosphere here [Fortuna Arena], against a team that have not lost in the domestic league and had some good results in the Champions League, so it will be a tough match.
“There is very good energy, there is confidence but as well there is the understanding of how difficult it is to win, win and keep winning.
“We are very aware of the difficulty of every challenge that we have and tomorrow we have a big one.”
Arteta may be right to be wary of the Czech league leaders, who have won eight and drawn six in the league, conceding an almost Arsenal-level miserly eight goals.
In fact, their solitary loss of the season came against Inter, as they fell 3-0 at the San Siro in September.
Arsenal will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season on Tuesday – live on TNT Sports and discovery+ – but Arteta insists they still have areas to improve on.
“I think we try, absolutely everything, we try our very best, but there are obviously many areas that we can develop and improve,” Arteta said.
“Just facing the reality, we are missing seven very big players for us and most of them we are in attacking areas, but the team has the capacity to find ways to win, to compete and to find the energy, the aggression and the will to win and we will have to continue to do that.”
Arsenal mentality comes from near misses – Trossard
To be in the position Arsenal are in, suggests there is a very strong togetherness and mentality in the dressing room.
The Gunners have been close to glory in each of the last three Premier League seasons, finishing second each time and losing only 15 matches across those three campaigns.
Last term they also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2008/09 season in a real sign of progress.
It is little wonder that winger Leandro Trossard reveals Arsenal’s desire to keep winning stems from those close shaves at glory.
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“It’s obviously very good [the feeling in the dressing room] and the good thing about it is, once the game is over, everybody is so focused on the next game,” he said.
“You just want to keep going, keep trying to win the next game and the next game.
“I think that is the mentality at the moment where we are and we are enjoying it.
“I think it [the mentality] comes from over the years, obviously we have been challenging for the Premier League and the Champions League last year and the year before and I think every year you get a bit more feeling, experience.
“I think everyone is just ready to go for it and you can see it in everyone’s body language that every game is very important. We want to win every game and obviously it is the hardest thing to do, but that is how we approach it.”
Perhaps the biggest indicator of Arsenal’s mentality this season has been their hunger to score from set pieces, for which they are arguably the league, and probably European, leaders.
Trossard’s attitude reflects that thinking, with Nico Jover’s incredible set-piece regime wreaking havoc.
“Everyone has the belief that we can score from every set piece and I think that is a good thing as well to have,” the Belgian added.
“If we get every game with more and more set pieces, we have more chance to score one.”
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