Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are ‘hurting’ after a run of three consecutive losses as the Gunners look to bounce back against Chelsea on Wednesday evening.
Arsenal travel across the capital to face Chelsea this week looking to address their recent poor form, with a run of three straight defeats having seen the North Londoners drop to sixth in the Premier League.
Arteta admits it has been a ‘very difficult’ period for his team as their push for Champions League football has stalled, but insists the Gunners still have ‘everything to play for’ in their pursuit of a top four finish.
“Very difficult, because at this club it’s only about winning, and they were three different games, but with the same outcome,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference on the club’s recent form.
“We are extremely unsatisfied with that, we know that, we’re hurting, but at the same time we know how we lost and what we merited from those games are not reflected in the amount of points that we taken.
“We have to understand why we lost those games as well, but there is nothing to look back on. Everything is still to play for, our ambition is still in tact, our desire is still in tact. We know the challenge ahead and we’re going to go for it.”
Arteta insisted that his side will need to be at their best to earn a result against the European champions, who will arrive into the clash in confident mood after reaching the FA Cup final last weekend.
“We have to be at our best against the best team in Europe that showed last year what they can do with everything that they have and with the ability that we have as well. We’re going to go there as always to win the match and that is going to be our intention tomorrow when we’re at Stamford Bridge.”
Arsenal’s trip to Stamford Bridge is followed by another huge showdown against top four rivals Manchester United this weekend, though Arteta says the ‘most important’ game is always the next one for his side.
“We have had some big weeks to be fair but always the next one is the most important one, so if you asked me the question it is tomorrow the most important game that I’ve had since I’ve been the manager here.”
