Arteta wants ruthless streak from Arsenal ahead of Old Trafford test

Mikel Arteta wants his young Arsenal team to develop a ruthless streak in front of goal ahead of two away matches that will test their top-four credentials.

The Gunners are fifth in the Premier League, level on points with fourth-placed West Ham, after beating Newcastle 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

They face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday before playing Everton at Goodison Park a week today.

Arsenal go into those games with confidence after bouncing back from a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool but Arteta wants them to be more clinical.

Goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli broke down Newcastle but the scoreline should have been more comfortable after Arsenal finished the game with 24 shots on goal and 66 per cent possession.

Asked if he wants his team to be more ruthless, Arteta said: “Yeah, after the 2-0 we have to go to a different level. We gave too many sloppy balls away and weren’t organised in the press and we allowed them to run a few times.

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“That’s the moment that we have to give even more, and go for the third or the fourth.

“We had moments in the first half when we took the game where we wanted, but without really hurting them enough and not playing with enough urgency.”

Arsenal were today waiting to discover if Saka will be fit for the trip to Old Trafford after he limped off during the Newcastle win. Arteta confirmed after the game that the England star was struggling with a muscle injury and underwent scans yesterday.