MIKEL ARTETA gave Arsenal players the four keys to his new regime when he waited for them in the dressing room after Saturday’s bore-draw at Everton.
Keeper Bernd Leno revealed the ex-Manchester City No 2 and former Gunners’ midfielder gave a brief lowdown – the day before taking training for the first time.
Incoming Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has already revealed some of his key methods for putting Arsenal on the road back to the topCredit: Getty – Contributor
The Metro report Germany star Leno as saying: “He didn’t speak too much about quality or about tactics. He just said he wants to see players who run, who support their team-mates, who defend the goal, play as a team.
“I think this was our main problem. We played this season some good games, like this, but many games we were not good enough on this point.
“I think this is the way he needs to push us. We understood the message.”
Arteta had seen Arsenal rarely troubled in a dire 0-0 stalemate at Goodison Park, Duncan Ferguson’s fourth and last game as Everton caretaker-chief before Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival.
And although there was little to suggest the Gunners are better than their current 11th position in the Premier League, Leno suggested they were at least much tighter as a team.
He said: “We didn’t let [Everton] have any transitions and the distances [between our defenders and their attackers] were much closer.
“This is the only way to play, because the Premier League is too strong to have one, two or three players that don’t defend.”
Meanwhile, Arteta has insisted he will start with an open mind, giving frustrating players like playmaker Mesut Ozil the chance to start afresh.
Spaniard Arteta said on Saturday: “You’re not going to be judged on what you done in the past, positive or negative.
“We will try to put the most competitive team out, we are to be ready and nullify them as much as possible.”
Mikel Arteta says everyone gets a clean sheet at Arsenal including Mesut Ozil
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
