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Premier League | Gameweek 20
Dec 29, 2019 at 2pm UK
 
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Mikel Arteta: 'Arsenal need to connect with the fans again'

The Gunners host London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal’s players and staff have a duty to improve the lives of the club’s disillusioned supporters.

New Gunners head coach Arteta arrived in north London amid growing unrest among a frustrated fanbase which had witnessed just one win from 13 games in all competitions.

The Spaniard joined his team on the pitch to thank travelling fans after that run stretched to 14 matches following the 1-1 Boxing Day draw at Bournemouth on his managerial debut.

AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal – Premier League – Vitality Stadium
Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal players applauded the fans on Boxing Day (PA/Mark Kerton)

Arteta’s first match at the Emirates Stadium is a London derby against Chelsea on Sunday and he is eager to build bridges and restore pride and positivity to the terraces.

“I was really pleased with how the fans treated the players (at Bournemouth) and I was happy that the players went to see the fans after the game as well because we need that connection,” said Arteta.

“Slowly we need to build that back to where it was because it’s going to be very powerful for us to use that.

“We play for them. At the end of the day, they’re expecting a lot from us.

“We have to give them enjoyment, we have to make their lives better and when we win, they will be better because they will be happier.

“It’s our responsibility and we have to do everything we can to achieve that.”

Arteta, who played for the Gunners between 2011 and 2016, was given first-hand experience of the negative atmosphere around the club less than a fortnight ago.

The former Manchester City assistant coach was in the opposition dugout when Arsenal were beaten 3-0 by Pep Guardiola’s side on December 15 in their previous home game.

While he admits appeasing supporters is a major priority, the 37-year-old thinks persuading Arsenal’s squad to trust his methods is a more pressing objective.

“First I think I need the players and if I can convince the players, afterwards we can convince the fans,” he said.

“I think it’s a very, very important part of my job.

“Energy is everything, in life, in football and in sports. If we are able to generate this, it will give us a lift.

“I want to review the (Bournemouth) game, go through the individual and collective issues that we had, the positives and negatives to try to convince them that if they do more of this then they will be more comfortable in the game.

“Then we’ll be closer to winning football games.”

Arsenal last won a Premier League match on home soil on October 6.

Since a narrow 1-0 success over Bournemouth, which proved to be Unai Emery’s final top-flight victory as Gunners manager, they have been held to draws by Crystal Palace, Wolves and Southampton and lost to Brighton and champions City.

Weekend opponents Chelsea make the short trip across the capital with troubling home form of their own.

Arsenal v Chelsea – Emirates FA Cup – Final – Wembley Stadium
Arsenal fans have not had much to cheer this season (PA/Adam Davy)

Frank Lampard’s Blues have been beaten at Stamford Bridge without scoring by struggling sides West Ham, Bournemouth and Southampton during the past month.

Despite those poor results, Arteta expects a tough encounter.

“I know they lost at home again but they are a terrific team, so it will be a really good test for us,” he said.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21155150203050
2Arsenal21127241192243
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle22115638261238
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Bournemouth22107536261037
7Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
8Aston Villa2110563132-135
9Fulham228953430433
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2171043229331
11Brentford2284104039128
12Crystal Palace226972528-327
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd217592629-326
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2275102743-1626
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
16Everton203891526-1117
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
18Ipswich TownIpswich2137112037-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2235142348-2514
20Southampton2113171347-346


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