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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says next week will be crucial to ensure his team is not drawn into an unexpected relegation battle.
The Gunners have managed a victory in their last 10 Premier League games, a streak that has seen them slide down the Premier League table to 15th place.
“I make no excuses,” said Arteta, who succeeded the fired Unai Emery in December 2019.
The 38-year-old Spaniard retains the backing of the Arsenal hierarchy.
Gunners host Chelsea on Saturday and then face trips to two of the sides below them: Brighton, whose only home win in 2020 was against Arsenal last season, and West Brom.
When asked if next week is important so that his team does not become a serious relegation candidate, Arteta replied: “Yes, absolutely. The next seven to eight days will be crucial to see where we go in the Premier League. “.
After finishing last season winning the FA Cup, and then starting this by raising the Community Shield, winning three of the first four league games and beating Leicester and Liverpool away from home in the Carabao Cup, Arsenal’s campaign has been slumped.
West Brom boss Sam Allardyce said Wednesday that he viewed the Gunners as a rival at the bottom of the table.
Arteta said: “I have been very clear in many moments that we are losing football matches. It is my responsibility to fix that and, whatever happens, we have been the ones who have disappointed ourselves and it is up to us to change that.” . “
Saturday’s rival Chelsea responded to the FA Cup final loss to Arsenal by spending £ 200m on new players.
Furthermore, Frank Lampard’s team won at the Emirates Stadium in 2019-20 and have only lost twice in their last nine visits to the Premier League.
“Right now, you’re probably talking about the strongest squad in the Premier League and a team that is surely going to be fighting for the top spot,” Arteta said.
“What they did seems to be working well and we are not there at the moment.”
