Arsenal ready to rebound after troubled spell: Mikel Arteta

LONDON – Mikel Arteta expects Arsenal to bounce back from their nightmare spell in their crucial English Premier League clash at Chelsea on Nov 10, after sensing his players’ hunger during a team meeting this week.

Arteta’s side are without a victory in their last three league games – losing twice – and have won just three of their last eight in the competition.

Beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek, hot on the heels of last weekend’s 1-0 loss at Newcastle United, the Gunners are desperate to end their slump in this weekend’s London derby at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal were expected to challenge for the title after finishing second to Manchester City in both the past two seasons, and Arteta is confident his side will rise to the challenge of turning their season around.

“Obviously when you don’t win it affects the mood and the energy. The positive is there is nobody inside or outside of this building who wants to win more than I do,” he said on Nov 8.

“Today I had a meeting with them about it and I can sense it straight away. They are paying attention, they are hungry, they want to work. Their desire is unbelievable. They are a joy to work with.”

Chelsea are tied on 18 points with the Gunners, but are ahead on goal difference, so both teams are quite evenly matched.

But, form-wise, Arsenal’s only wins in their last six matches in all competitions came against weaker opposition – Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe and second-tier Preston in the League Cup.

Another defeat this weekend would be a huge blow to Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.

Arteta has been hampered by a long-term injury to captain Martin Odegaard, as well as a rash of red cards for Declan Rice, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard.

Despite their travails, he is certain they will be able to claw their way back into contention.

“The problem is quite identifiable and very resolvable,” added the Spaniard.

“Watching the Inter match back twice, I have never seen my team do that to anyone. You think how the hell haven’t we won that game. The team is doing 10 times better than last season but at the end of the day you have to win.”

Odegaard came off the bench as a late substitute against Inter, as the Norway midfielder finally returned from the ankle problem suffered on international duty in September.

He could start against Chelsea and Arteta said: “Certainly having a player like Martin helps because he has shown how important he is over the last three or four years.

“He tried his best to be involved while he was injured but not having him in the squad, it is different. We hope he is going to help because he has been incredibly good. He has been out for a while so let’s see how he impacts the team.”

Winger Bukayo Saka, who has provided more assists than any other player in the Premier League with seven, also has a recent good run against Chelsea – scoring (once) or assisting (twice) a goal in each of his last three away league games against the Blues.

There was bad news, however, as to whether Rice will be able to feature.

While Arteta did not disclose any details on the 25-year-old England international’s injury, British media reported that he has a broken toe but is expected to play against Chelsea.

Having picked up the injury during the defeat at Newcastle last weekend, Rice missed their trip to Inter.

“I have to be very vague on that one because there is no clarity, if he is going to be fit or not for the weekend.

“He hasn’t trained yet and it is not clear yet whether he is going to be available,” Arteta insisted. AFP, REUTERS