Mikel Arteta says getting rid of Arsenal’s smooth reputation is vital to its rebuilding

Mikel Arteta believes that getting rid of Arsenal’s smooth reputation should be one of the “basic” principles of its rebuilding in North London.

Gunners have long been accused of lacking defensive steel to compete with the best.

But in Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Manchester City, Arteta’s team showed challenge and strength to make it to the Wembley final.

Mikel Arteta says that Arsenal must shed its soft reputation to succeed in the top flight.

“It is one of the basics that we have to be one of the best to do it,” Arteta said before his trip to Aston Villa.

‘That criticism is sometimes fair, sometimes not. When you win everything is more positive and then you do a very similar performance and you lose and the perception is different.

‘It is about what we are feeling and how we want to do it. In that process it is going in the right direction. ‘

Gunners have long been accused of lacking defensive steel against their oppositions.

But Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Man City showed challenge and strength to make it to the final.

By changing Arsenal’s mindset towards defense, Arteta added: “ I try to convince (the players) that without that we cannot compete with the best teams at the moment because there are other areas that we have to improve a lot.

“If they do it because we have to push them to do it all the time, for me that is not the right way and we will not succeed in the long term.”

‘If you start to enjoy doing it together and feel proud of it, and you can see the results and feel that unity and together, that is powerful. Hopefully we can do that.