MX23RW : Thursday, February 18 03:23:42| >> :120:14931:14931:

Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal have lost ruthless streak

Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal have lost ruthless streak
© Reuters
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta calls on his side to become more "ruthless" after their dip in form has seen them slip into the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that his team are "lacking ruthlessness" amid their recent dip in form.

The Gunners appeared to have turned their fortunes around at the start of the year, but back-to-back defeats to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa has seen them slip to 11th in the Premier League table.

Arteta has already admitted that his side - who sit nine points adrift of the Champions League places - are not realistically capable of challenging for the top four, and the Spaniard has urged his side to find their ruthless streak again.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Arteta said: "We are lacking ruthlessness, at the moment, because we gave a goal away, and we gave another two big chances away ourselves against Villa.

"We gave the game away against Wolves. We had the chances to put the game to bed and even when you make a mistake you have to try and correct it and be ruthless in the opponent's box, and we didn't do that either.

"So then you're not going to win football matches. Leeds are a really brave, dynamic and energetic team that goes for the three points all the time - constantly attacking, constantly a threat, constantly pressing.

"First you have to match and improve their energy levels, and then you have to play your game and try to take it where we want and not where they want. If you do that you have a good chance to win."

Leeds United sit one point and one place ahead of Arsenal - who have played a game more - before Sunday afternoon's showdown at the Emirates Stadium.

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured in February 2021
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City24175249153456
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd24137450311946
3Leicester CityLeicester24144642261646
4Chelsea24126640241642
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham2412663728942
6Liverpool24117645321340
7Everton2311483533237
8Aston Villa22113836241236
9Tottenham HotspurSpurs23106736251136
10Arsenal24104103125634
11Leeds UnitedLeeds23102114042-232
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2486102532-730
13Southampton2385103039-929
14Crystal Palace2485112742-1529
15Burnley2476111830-1227
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2451182530-526
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2474132540-1525
18Fulham24310112032-1219
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2427151955-3613
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2432191540-2511

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