Arsenal went without a win in seven Premier League games and the losing run brought the club dangerously close to relegation, just six points away. It was a stretch that according to Mikel Arteta was painful and he took responsibility for the slide.
The Gunners, however, caught a break by scoring a 3-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday. Arteta said he needed the victory and it afforded him breathing room. But he is not stopping to lead Arsenal back to the winning column.
The club suffered a setback by failing to secure a win in the last four games at the Emirates. A gloomy cast seemed to prevail at home but Arteta can look forward to so-called "winnable fixtures." He can still whip up a turnaround facing Brighton, West Brom, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle in the next few days to come.
Yet while trying to fight for Arsenal to at least survive the threat of relegation, the Spaniard admitted he is hurting from the club's poor run in form.
"Obviously results-wise in the last few weeks we have all been suffering, I have been suffering. I feel very responsible for that," The Guardian reported the Arsenal boss as saying.
And his pain was intensified by the desire to make Arsenal successful again. Arteta said he aims to make the Gunners a strong squad but disappointment is stopping him in his tracks. When the club was losing in succession, the boss knew that success is not easy to achieve, and he is letting the organization and the supporters down.
The only consolation for the Spanish boss was the full backing that the Arsenal hierarchy gave, and it came at a time when talks of his sacking got stronger. The rumor was not without basis as the club posted a losing record in recent weeks that reminded of a forgettable run decades ago.
Arteta was writing history but not the kind that will earn him praises. So it would come as no surprise if the Arsenal leadership will decide to change course midway through the battle but the club thought it wise to continue on the same road.
"It is draining, it is frustrating and it is painful ... At the same time, I know we have to fight our way back," Arteta allowed, and per the report by Goal.
In the end, Arteta admitted he is realizing that managing is tougher than playing as the responsibility is greater and the job demands his attention almost 24/7. The boss noted though that the support coming from the club leadership and players makes the work easier.
