Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are entering the crucial stage for top 4 hopes ahead of Manchester United’s trip

That shouldn’t be Mikel Arteta, right?

Not after the FA Cup win gave hope of what Arsenal could achieve. The Community Shield win over Liverpool sparked a sense of new goals.

Suddenly there was faith. Another identity, the last one that was lost in a bygone era. Whispers from outside competitors for the top 4.

Mikel Arteta (above) faces a key phase of his career at Arsenal after consecutive defeats

The Gunners have been beaten by Manchester City and Leicester City in their last two games

But here we are, Arsenal face Manchester United today with three losses in their last four Premier League losses. 12th place. A worse first 26 league games than Unai Emery.

Maybe this time it’s just a product of some crazy season where the only pattern is that there aren’t any. Or maybe there is more to it than that. If you look closer, there are signs of concern.

Only Crystal Palace, Newcastle and West Brom with fewer shots per game (check after today). Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang five league games without a goal.

Only three other teams with a higher number of passes per defensive action, a number that shows how aggressively you push. The lower the number, the fewer passes you will allow your opponent to pass before trying to win them back. Not what you would expect from a Pep Guardiola student.

Arsenal aren’t pushing for teams while goals for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (L) have dried up.

From Arteta’s point of view, this is just one more pothole on the long road to rebuilding a club that hasn’t known what has passed through different hands since its previous creator left. A similar situation as today with the man in the opposing dugout in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

“I had to prioritize the things that we needed to do right now to have the best possible chance of being competitive in every game and try to have a real fight against every opponent.

“I think we’re doing that, and now there are some final things that we need to improve to be more consistent with our results.

Arteta prepares his team for a crucial game against Manchester United this Sunday

‘But the way we compete against each other in every game is beyond question, even against the top teams. The game we lost the other day will be won in a few months. ‘

The game in question was the 1-0 home loss to Leicester, Arsenal’s first home loss to the Foxes in 47 years. They fought to break down a Leicester team that Arteta had complained about knocking eleven men behind the ball, only Jamie Vardy came off the bench and snatched the win.

‘These games are much better controlled and we will pose a greater threat if we attack these situations. It takes a bit and you have to respect that time without exposing the players.

Jamie Vardy (above) scored the winning goal when Leicester won at Arsenal for the first time in 47 years

‘It’s a challenge and that is that we have to solve ourselves every day because we don’t have a six-week preseason where we can work on anything with all the players. We only face situations as they come, and we get better because we need to improve in certain areas. ‘

Arsenal aren’t the only team involved in the madness. United has endured their own. Hammered 6-1 by Tottenham, but since then defeated Paris Saint-Germain and stuffed Leipzig in the Champions League. Even Arteta tried to understand everything.

“I’ve seen their games and they are really different games,” said Arteta. “Where they won and lost, how the game was navigated and where the game was at certain moments and how it ended is confusing.

Arteta claim he has been “confused” by Manchester United’s recent form and resurgence

“What I can say about them is that they have the ability to turn any game into a win, with the ability they have upfront, the options they have to change formations and the threat that they have in attack positions. “

Arteta believes this turbulent time of year will calm down. Currently, Everton title contenders and Aston Villa are in the top four.

In the end, it will be the usual suspects, and Arteta believes Arsenal will be one of them.

Arteta believes his Arsenal squad will find shape this season and be among the top four competitors

“I assume everything will be more natural and stable,” he said. ‘The start of the season depends a lot on your pairings.

‘Also, don’t forget that we’ve already played Liverpool three times this season, played Manchester City away and played some tough games without preparation.

“We’ll see where we are in May.”