Coach Arteta: 'Arsenal are not at their best yet'
After dominating the top of the table for most of the time and finishing second last season, the expectations placed on Arsenal this season are very high. Especially when they spent more than 250 million USD to recruit Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice in the last summer transfer window.
Through four matches, Arsenal reached 10 points - only two less than top of the table Man City. But, none of their matches have gone smoothly. Arteta's team could only win against Nottingham and Crystal Palace with a difference of one goal, leaving Fulham to draw 2-2 at Emirates' home field and relying on luck and goals in injury time to come back against Man Utd.
This week, the challenge facing Arsenal is not small, as a guest of Everton. Since the 5-2 win in 2017, they have lost four and drawn one in five trips to Goodison Park. The most recent was a 0-1 defeat last season.
"Arsenal's performance is not positive, as we have not won at Everton in the last five seasons," Arteta said in a press conference before the trip to Merseyside. "So we have to be at our best to beat Everton. That's something we haven't done since the beginning of the season, and that's where we will start."
While still playing, Arteta played for Everton from 2005-2011, scoring 35 goals in 209 matches. Therefore, he admitted that he has a deep attachment to this club. But the 41-year-old strategist also immediately affirmed that he must maintain professionalism at work. "It was an important part of my playing career. But now, as a coach, I have to face Everton and obviously I want to beat them," he emphasized.
In terms of personnel, Arteta said the entire team is in good shape and can play after a two-week break to make room for the national team, except for central midfielder Thomas Partey who suffered a muscle injury and had to rest for a few more weeks.
This summer, Arsenal received a lot of criticism for terminating the contract with Nicolas Pepe - the player who held the record for the club's most expensive price at 87 million USD in the summer of 2019. Pepe is the ninth player that Arsenal has terminated the contract since Arteta took charge. at Emirates Stadium in 2019. According to the Spanish coach, Pepe trained well and was not at fault for the fee the club spent, but he emphasized "there is no point in continuing when things are not as expected".
As the reigning Premier League runner-up, this season Arsenal returns to the Champions League - the first time since the 2016-2017 season under legendary coach Arsene Wenger. According to the draw results, "Gunners" entered Group B without too much discomfort, with defending Europa League champions Sevilla, PSV and Lens.
On September 20, they will play their opening match against PSV. According to Arteta, compared to competing in the Europa League last season, the competition, requirements and expectations in the Champions League are of course very different, especially when the team has not played in this tournament for nearly seven years. However, he and his students were excited and eagerly waiting because that was where they wanted to be.
