Mikel Arteta Insists Arsenal Do Not Need A Reset Amidst Recent Poor Form

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Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, remains optimistic despite the team's recent struggles in the Premier League. The Gunners have only secured one point from their last three matches against Bournemouth, Liverpool, and Newcastle. This leaves them in fifth place, trailing Arne Slot's team by seven points. Additionally, Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat to Inter in the Champions League, marking consecutive losses across competitions.

Arteta is not considering a major overhaul for his team. He stated during a press conference, "I don't think about [needing a reset]. Nobody works harder than me, I guarantee you that. We don't need a reset." Instead, he believes they need to increase their effort slightly but did not specify how. Despite recent setbacks, Arteta remains confident as they prepare to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The absence of key players has been challenging for Arsenal. Captain Martin Odegaard was sidelined due to an injury sustained while playing for Norway in September. He made a brief appearance against Inter and is expected to be part of the squad facing Chelsea. Declan Rice also missed the Champions League match due to injury and remains uncertain for the upcoming game.

Arteta commented on Rice's situation: "I have to be very vague on [Rice] because there is no clarity on if he is going to be fit or not for the weekend." The uncertainty surrounding Rice's availability adds to Arsenal's current challenges.

Despite these difficulties, Arteta has a strong track record against Chelsea. Among managers who have faced Chelsea at least ten times in the Premier League, only Kenny Dalglish boasts a higher win rate than Arteta's 60%. This history gives him confidence ahead of Sunday's match.

Chelsea enters the game following an impressive 8-0 victory over Noah in the Europa Conference League. However, Arteta hopes his team can bounce back and secure a win against this familiar opponent.

Bukayo Saka has been crucial for Arsenal recently but needs more support from teammates like Odegaard. His return is eagerly anticipated as it could provide much-needed assistance for Saka and improve Arsenal's overall performance.

As Arsenal prepares for their next challenge against Chelsea, Arteta remains focused on improving his team's performance without drastic changes. The return of key players like Odegaard could play a significant role in helping them regain their winning form.