Arteta: Gunners Players Are Hurting

07 December 2012

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has issued a heartfelt rallying cry to the club’s angry supporters.

After a positive start to the season, the Gunners have proved themselves to be undercooked.

In the Premier League especially, Arsenal have failed to overcome the exit of star striker Robin van Persie, and are currently languishing in 10th place on the log, 15 points behind leaders Manchester United.

Arteta insists however, that Arsenal's woes have not been brought about by lack of trying or caring.

And the classy Spaniard admits that the Gunners dressing room is “hurting” as a result of their poor league campaign.

"People are hurting, people are upset with themselves, the players are angry," Arteta told the Daily Mirror in a raw interview.

"I think that's a good thing. It's not like players couldn't care less, they know what they need to do.”

"At Arsenal you have a group of players who want to give 100 per-cent and that makes things so much easier. I always see that in the dressing room,” Arteta continued, in a plea to Arsenal’s frustrated supporters not to give up on the team.

“You look at the players' faces, the disappointment, the hurt. They want to put it right.

“You've got players here demanding and wanting to do extra training. It's in themselves to work harder to put it right.”

The Gunners welcome high-flying West Brom to the Emirates this weekend, and the London club’s long suffering supporters will take heart from Arteta’s passion.

But if they fail to win and slip further down the Premier League log, Arteta and his team-mates, and even long-serving manager Arsene Wenger, may find very little goodwill in North London over the festive season.