Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is very optimistic that things will only get better after enduring a poor start in the Premier League. The Spaniard believes that the Gunners will come through a testing period as a stronger and collective unit.
Arsenal lost all of their first three fixtures in the Premier League and were languishing right at the bottom of the point table. They started their campaign with a disappointing defeat against newly-promoted Brentford followed by a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea. Lastly, they received a 5-0 thrashing against Manchester City which also saw Granit Xhaka sent off.
However, a win in the EFL Cup against West Brom followed by a win against Norwich City has turned the tide at least a bit and Arteta believes that good days are waiting for the Gunners.
They still have a lot to improve but the Spaniard feels confident in the long term project at hand. He feels that the project will soon take shape shutting the critics.
“I can really see the light,” the Gunners boss told a press conference on Thursday. “I’m telling you I’m very positive most of the time. I’ve seen the light and I can see bright lights.
“There can be bumps in the road within that light, but I can see a lot of light.”
When asked about dealing with criticism Arteta gave a very rational answer. He said, “Life brings you things and you cannot decide it. There are certain things that you cannot control. What is coming to you is coming for a reason. Sometimes we don’t want to see it, but it’s coming for a reason – and it’s probably for the right reason.
“Then it’s about how you take it and how you respond to that. The way that everyone around me responded is the way that I responded. That’s why it’s been fine.”
The former Arsenal midfielder admits that it was tough going through that period of criticism. But he reflects on how important it was to experience such a phase.
“It’s tough because it hurts, because you want to see something different. But what you want is not always what happens. Things happen for a reason and maybe what is happening had to happen and [maybe] it’s going to be really good for the club and really good for myself and everybody experiencing that situation.
“We have to believe that.”
Arsenal will next visit Burnley at the Turf Moor and a win will see the Gunners propel to the top half of the Premier League table.
