MIKEL ARTETA knows the knives are out for Arsenal but refuses to be judged after just one game of the new season.
The rookie boss and his players have been getting it in the neck from all angles since last Friday’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at Brentford.
And with Chelsea and Manchester City next up on their Premier League agenda, things are not about to get easier any time soon.
Yet Arteta, 39, is determined to block out all the negative noise and insists his work should be assessed two or three years down the line.
Pessimistic Arsenal supporters reckon Arteta will do well to last another three months in the job but the Premier League’s youngest manager is not in any mood to chuck in the towel.
He has just taken his summer spending to £128million after £30million Martin Odegaard, 22, and £24m Aaron Ramsdale joined fellow Emirates newcomers Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares yesterday.
It leaves him with a squad short on birthdays but bursting with promise.
Which is why he has no intention of allowing himself to be dragged down by his army of critics.
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Even Rwandan president Paul Kagame piled in after the Brentford game, forcing Arteta to concede: “I totally agree that Arsenal should not accept mediocrity.
“I know that people have the intention to bury us and try to criticise us but it is nothing new and I am not interested in that.
“I am not pointing at anyone, just expressing obvious feelings about some very disrespectful things that have been said.
“We need to put things into perspective because it’s one day of Premier League football under incredible circumstances and we have the whole season ahead of us.
“We knew the external consequences of that defeat at Brentford but any negativity that’s going to surround this club will be outside of these walls.
“I just want constructive people around me but if you don’t feel pressure in football then I think you’ve picked the wrong profession.
“We all have a responsibility to do our best but unfortunately the circumstances are uncontrollable so you have to adapt and do the best you can.
“You know you are going to be judged on results, but it doesn’t mean that you are doing a good or bad job because you win or lose football matches. I have had bigger challenges during my 18 months here and a lot of things have occurred during that time.
“Maybe now is not the right time to look at everything because a lot of people are not interested in analysing what has happened.
“But in two or three years’ time, when we look back with perspective, we will say ‘what happened makes a lot of sense’.”
Arsenal have won their last three games against Chelsea and lost only one of five against their London rivals under Arteta’s management.
And while they might not be in the greatest shape going into tomorrow’s game due to a number of key absentees, Arteta remains convinced that the club’s long-term future is bright.
He says: We have a lot of positive new energy that is coming up.
“We needed to address a lot of issues that we had with the balance of our squad and define a model that can be sustainable in the short, medium and long-term.
“We have brought in a number of young players who are at different stages of their development but who sit perfectly with what we are trying to do.
“It shows you the project we are building.
“Some already have experience in the Premier League and some are coming from abroad but with a great education as well.
“And I think you can see the level they already have but still the margin for improvement they will have at this club.
“Martin Odegaard is still a really young man but he has huge experience in different clubs and he has a unique talent.
“We needed more options, alternatives, creativity and players that can be role models for this club so I am delighted we have Martin on a permanent deal.
“We lost creative players and we cannot put all of that on to the shoulders of Emile Smith Rowe.
“Emile has never played 50 games at this level and we can’t rely on one player, we need to protect him.
“Martin and Emile showed last season that they can play perfectly together and we need others who are able to do that.”
Many Arsenal fans have been unimpressed by the signing of Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, 23, for £24m plus a further £6m in add-ons.
But Arteta says: “They are going to love his personality, his character and his quality.
“He’s a young goalkeeper but he has huge potential and it’s vital to have two very good keepers to create healthy competition.”
Arteta will be without Alex Lacazette, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Magalhaes, Willian, Eddie Nketiah and Alex Runarsson, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has just returned from Covid.
ARSENAL (likely): Leno; Chambers, White, Mari; Tierney; Lokongo, Xhaka; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Saka; Aubameyang.
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