I always had belief in our players, says Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta
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Arsenal's Kai Havertz will aim to continue scoring after netting against Wolves in the Gunners' season opener.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he always had “belief” in his players to do the job, as he prepares for his side’s English Premier League trip to Aston Villa on Aug 24.
Both teams – who are in the Champions League this season – got off to winning starts to their campaigns last weekend. The Gunners beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0,
Arsenal had Bukayo Saka to thank, as the star forward put on a show with an assist for Kai Havertz before scoring a goal himself, but Arteta knows that the most important thing would still be a collective effort from his men.
“I always had a feeling and belief within our players that I have to trust. That is the only way to get the best out of your team and individuals,” he said on Aug 23.
“To achieve what level – that’s something else. Obviously we know what we want and we (need to) perform at the right level to achieve it and tomorrow is no different. It’s the second game and that’s what we are going to do.”
The Gunners will be hoping to build on the positives of last weekend’s victory, which extended their winning run to seven competitive matches.
Going to Villa Park to face last season’s fourth-placed team – who are coached impressively by the former Arsenal boss Emery – will pose a challenge. But Arteta will not be fazed.
His team have collected 25 points from 27 in EPL games on the road in 2024, with seven clean sheets in those nine matches and conceded just three goals.
That said, Villa were the only team to do the league double over Arsenal last season, winning 1-0 at home before stunning the Gunners 2-0 at the Emirates.
Arteta will have to find a way to get past Emery’s men and keep the winning streak going, as he bids to win the London side’s first Premier League title since 2003-04.
“They are a really good side, really well coached. They dominate every aspect of the game,” he added.
Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu will remain on the sidelines as they recover from injury.
Over in the Villa camp, Emery also has two players yet to return in Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings.
Despite qualifying for the Champions League, Villa ended last season on a poor run with four winless league games, so the victory over West Ham was a boost for the challenges ahead.
Aston Villa’s victory over West Ham was a boost for the challenges ahead as they ended last season on a weak note.
PHOTO: AFP
They are now on the verge of opening a Premier League campaign with consecutive wins for just the fourth time in history, if they can beat Arsenal in front of their home fans.
It is not an impossible task, as they proved last season when they recorded 15 league wins in a row at Villa Park. Emery’s side have also scored at least twice in each of their last eight matches on home soil.
“I feel that the club is moving forward every year,” goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who signed an extended contract this week, said on Villa’s website.
“I have achieved everything as an international for Argentina and I still think that we can win a trophy here.” REUTERS
