Mikel Arteta says Arsenal still have ‘a lot of things to improve’ despite maintaining their winning start to pre-season with a 3-1 victory over Orlando City.
Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson scored second-half goals to secure the win over the MLS side, who had cancelled out Gabriel Martinelli’s opener for the north Londoners before half-time.
The result made it three wins from three for the Gunners in pre-season, but Arteta admits there remains much room for improvement and is seeking greater consistency in his side’s performances.
“It’s going well but there are a lot of things to improve,” Arteta told Arsenal’s club media.
“In terms of the consistency, the level that we play from minute zero to 95, has to still improve. Physically still we are not there because we haven’t loaded the players with 90 minutes yet, but there a lot of positive signs at the same time.”
Arteta admitted his side initially struggled in the humidity in Orlando, but outlined his belief that the Gunners ‘took control’ of an open in game in the second period.
“Right from the beginning it was very lively, from both supporters, but we suffered in the first half, physically. We didn’t pick up the rhythm, it’s warm, it’s humid and we didn’t show the determination to play the way we want to play.
“The game was open. But the second half was completely different, we took control of the game and played the way we wanted to play. We generated so many chances and the boys enjoyed it more.”
