Mikel Arteta responds to Arsenal sack rumors

Questions have been asked of the Gunners manager’s credentials after overseeing the club’s worst start in over four decades.

Mikel Arteta insists any thoughts of leaving Arsenal haven’t crossed his mind and maintains he has the full support of the club board.

Despite winning an FA Cup and Community Shield in his first nine months at the helm, Arteta has come under fire ever since upon leading Arsenal to their first worst in a league campaign since 1974/75 this term.

Eight defeats, two draws, and just four wins have come in the Gunners’ 14 league games. It’s left the club down in 15th-place and only four points above the relegation zone in the Premier League table.

Mikel Arteta came prepared with stats 🧐 pic.twitter.com/3RtjSF3jRf

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 21, 2020

But amid growing doubts over his future, the 38-year-old has kept those thoughts and rumors out of his mind.

“I don’t like to think about those steps because then I will be thinking in a negative way and I cannot do that,” said Arteta in a pre-match conference ahead of Tuesday’s EFL Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester City.

“At the moment, I have to try to be as positive as I can, believe in what we’re doing, try to modify things to make it work better, and stay strong.

“We’re going through a lot of difficulties, the last thing we want to be thinking of is more problems coming up in the next few months. I’m not in that state of mind.

“I know the responsibility that I have and why I am here. Everybody knows that from a few months ago, this wasn’t going to be resolved really quickly. I think that’s the consciousness of everybody at the club.”

Arsenal will back Mikel Arteta in the January transfer market due to on-going fears the club is facing a relegation battle [Various] pic.twitter.com/JZjmRZKbv6

— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) December 21, 2020

Arsenal technical director Edu and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham have both publicly backed Arteta recently.

On whether he has felt any pressure from the club, the Spaniard said: “No, from within the club everything I am feeling is just support, encouragement, and total confidence that we will get through this together.

“Externally I never read what is happening, I know more or less what is happening but I never read it: in beautiful moments I don’t read it, in difficult moments I don’t read it, I just try to focus on the job and what I have to do.

“But obviously a club of this stature deserves the best and when it is not happening, everyone is going to question what is happening. I am the most responsible one in terms of results, so I have to accept that.”