Arteta insists Gunners can explode amidst difficult season

Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal project is set to explode into life when football returns to normality following the coronavirus pandemic.

The Gunners are languishing in 10th place in the Premier League and saw their defence of the FA Cup end with a fourth-round defeat at Southampton.

Any hopes of silverware and Champions League qualification now all appear to rest on a successful Europa League campaign – with Arsenal preparing for the first leg of their round-of-16 tie against Olympiacos on Thursday night.

Arteta delivered the FA Cup and Community Shield in his first eight months in charge of the club, but consistency has continued to elude his team, and they now sit 12 points off the top four – the same amount they are clear of the relegation zone.

The Spaniard, however, feels the future is bright at the Emirates Stadium and things will start to look up in the coming months.

“I think this project is going to go ‘bang’,” he said. “This is where we are, but sometimes it is difficult to see the moment now but I’m sure where we are going.

“We have created a really strong group, a really strong bond with our players, with our fans, with our staff and that is going to pay big in the future.

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“You need to win to convince anybody that you are doing a good job in the club and taking them in the right direction.

“If you are not inside the club every day and know exactly what is going on within the club, the only way to convince anybody is to win.”