Arteta sees the light for wounded Arsenal
Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal's response to its poor start and warned there must be no let-up as it travels to Burnley on Sunday (AEST).
Arsenal avoided an unwanted club record of four defeats in their first four Premier League games thanks to a 1-0 win over Norwich City last weekend, scoring their first top-flight goal of the season.
Arteta's side now looks ahead to Burnley, which Arsenal is unbeaten against in its last nine away league games, its last defeat at Turf Moor coming in 1973.
The Gunners manager is full of confidence following the learning curve that he has experienced at the start of the 2021-2022 campaign.
"The boys were happy because we experienced a reaction of the fans towards the team and winning the first match, getting out of the blocks in the Premier League, it was a big part of our next moment," Arteta told a news conference.
"Now we have to put a run together and we know how much we need the results and the performances will lead to that.
"The way that everybody around me responded is the way that I responded and that's why it has been fine. It's tough because you want to see something different.
"But what you want is not always what happens. Things happen for a reason and maybe what is happening had to happen and it is going to be really good for the club. Now we have to believe.
"I can really see the light. I'm telling you I'm very positive most of the time. I've seen the light and I can see bright lights. There can be bumps in the road within that light, but I can see a lot of light."
Arsenal also opted to utilise new goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale against Norwich after signing him from Sheffield United in the transfer window, leaving Bernd Leno on the bench.
Indeed, Ramsdale has kept a clean sheet in both of his appearances so far in all competitions and he could become the first Arsenal goalkeeper since Wojciech Szczesny in 2010 to record a trio of shutouts in his first three starts.
Leno's demotion to the bench in recent weeks has led to reports that the Germany goalkeeper is unsettled, but Arteta assured that the competition is healthy.
"Aaron [Ramsdale] has come here to try to make us better and I decided to play him on the day, that's all," Arteta said.
"It is the same in every position. We want them to make each other better. We are competing against our opponents, we are not competing against each other here.
"We are trying to raise the level of the team and the level of the club.
"Bernd [Leno] should be disappointed, and he should support his team-mates as they all have with him. That's exactly what he's done."
