Mikel Arteta: Criticism of Arsenal is correct, but I am right man for the job

Mikel Arteta is convinced he is the man to turn Arsenal’s season around and today said he is ready to “take the bullets” amid mounting criticism over the club’s dismal form.

Pressure is building on Arteta with Arsenal 15th in the Premier League and just five points above the relegation zone after their worst start to a season since 1974.

Arteta retains the support of the club's technical director, Edu, but some fans are turning on the Spaniard after Sunday's 1-0 home defeat against Burnley.

The Gunners have lost four straight home League games for the first time in 61 years and Arteta needs to lift the team ahead of tomorrow's visit of in-form Southampton.

Asked if he is 100 per cent convinced he is the man to turn things around, he replied: "Yes."

Despite his defiance, Arteta is coming in for heavy criticism and he faced reports this week that the Arsenal dressing room is split. However, the Spaniard insists he is ready to weather the storm and has urged his players to rise up to the challenge.

"I feel the pressure all of the time," he said. "We have to face it being brave, fighting and no one giving up.  

"It's not time to hide, it's time to put your face and your body on the line and at the moment, I'm sorry, but we have to take the bullets.  We're not winning matches and you have to put your chest out [and say], 'hit me', because you have the right to hit me, because I'm not winning.  

"What else can I do? Put my head down, work harder and try to do things better and improve.

"It's natural, I accept it and it's part of the job. When you're not getting results, at the end of the day it's the manager who has the maximum responsibility to do this.  

"That's why I accept it because you can say whatever you want to explain, but in the end you have to win football matches and this club is too big to accept this many losses in the past few weeks. So my chest is here and hit me guys."

Edu has publicly backed Arteta, expressing his belief that he could see a "beautiful future" for the team and stressing the rebuild at Emirates Stadium will take time.

Arteta this morning thanked the Brazilian for his support and echoed his beliefs that there is no quick fix to the club's issues.

"We all knew when I took the job here that it wasn't a quick fix at all, there were too many things that needed to be resolved, too many big decisions to make, a lot of changes that are happening and this takes time," said Arteta, who is almost a year into his tenure.

"Are we pleased with the results? Absolutely not. I am the first one who is angry and frustrated because I think as well that we deserve much more than we have at the moment.  

"But it is our own fault and we need to look to the future, and know as well that the present is also really, really important at the moment."

Arsenal must now focus on Southampton, who are fourth in the Premier League.

The Gunners will be without Granit Xhaka after he was sent off for grabbing Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood by the throat on Sunday.

"It's been resolved internally and this is what I can say," said Arteta.

"He (Xhaka) knows and we know that he had a moment where he lost it and I know the reason why, but what I cannot do is just throw everything that he has done away just because he made a mistake."

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