Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal are in a good moment as the club look to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign at Bournemouth.
Arsenal remain undefeated across all competitions so far this season and next face a Bournemouth side without a win in 10 Premier League games at the Vitality Stadium.
Arsenal twice surrendered the lead to draw with Tottenham in the north London derby last weekend, but Arteta has been pleased with his side’s start to the season.
“Playing every three days and having to win and compete in different competitions, that is the challenge and we are up for it,” the Spaniard told his pre-match press conference.
“It’s a huge thing and it is the individual one and the collective one. That confidence transmits to each other.
“Playing well and winning matches is the best thing to do. We are in a good moment.”
Arteta will come up against childhood friend Andoni Iraola this weekend, after the latter took charge of Bournemouth during the summer. The duo played youth football together at amateur club Antiguoko and Arteta said he is looking forward to their reunion.
“We know each other really well. We have played together. We are privileged to be raised there [in the Basque region] and be educated there. That’s the beauty of football that now we are both managing in the Premier League.”
The duo are part of a group of coaches to emerge from the Basque country, alongside another ex-Antiguoko teammate and now Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, Aston Villa’s Unai Emery and former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui.
Arteta believes the region’s passion for the game has helped northern Spain produce so many quality coaches.
“It is the passion about football, about the region. They really take care of the academy. They do fantastic work to raise talent and it’s not a coincidence a lot of talent comes from that region.”
