Under-fire Arteta explains how Arsenal keep losing games

The Gunners have now lost eight of their last 12 Premier League games after Saturday’s defeat to Everton.

Mikel Arteta thinks small margins are the difference between victory and defeat for Arsenal as doubts grow over his future as manager.

The Gunners’ terrible run of form continued on Saturday upon losing 2-1 to Everton at Goodison Park. It extended their losing streak end in the league to eight defeats in 12 games (W2 D2) to leave them just four points above the relegation zone.

This turn in fortunes is a far cry from what fans had expected for this season, having finished as FA Cup winners in the previous campaign under Arteta.

“When we analyze every game, the reasons why we are losing football matches, compared to other teams winning them, the margins are small,” the Arsenal boss explained in his post-match conference.

“But we need those margins [to change] very quickly before the situation gets impossible to handle.”

The club’s poor run of results has naturally raised questions over Arteta, despite the coach retaining the board’s support.

“I understand that,” Arteta said on doubts regarding his future.

“My energy and my focus is only on getting the team out of that situation, maintaining the spirit on the team and the fight the boys showed every time they go on the pitch. You can see that, you cannot deny that.

“Obviously, again, the results – there is no question about that, it’s not good enough and it’s not acceptable for the standards of this football club and this is the challenge and the fight that we are against.”