Mikel Arteta targets winning run after meeting with Arsenal’s American owners | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed how he welcomes the pressure from the club’s owners as he opened up on his international break trip to America where he met with the Kroenke family. Arteta was at the heart of the Arsenal contingent that flew Stateside for a scheduled meeting with key members of the Arsenal membership group.

The upbeat manager, trying to close an early season gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool, reported how there is a mutual trust between him and the Kroenke’s but that he also welcomes the fact he is challenged to succeed too.

He said: “It’s a joy to have the owners that we have. The trust? I always felt it. Probably as well because I am very open and critical with myself and try to put the things on the table straight away.”

Expanding on how all relationships have their ups and downs he added: “I think it’s got its moments and I think it’s very important that we all feel comfortable and uncomfortable. Sometimes you need to put the temperature up a little bit, sometimes bring it down. And everybody needs it. I’m the first that needs that. And not only from him, from the coaches, from the players, media, it’s great to have that. So you are always seeking to be the best and evaluate and judge yourself in the right way.”

Asked what the temperature is like now, he joked: “Very good. Like Mallorca in June!”

The Arsenal agenda in America included a review of the season so far, the appintment of a Sporting Director to replace Edu, transfer and broader plans over the next few years. Arteta explained: “There are all the kind of things across the club, obviously, that they need more vision in terms of what’s going to happen in 24 months, 36 months? But what we especially spend time on what’s going to happen in the next 12 months.”

The main priority for Arsenal now is their home game against in-form Nottingham Forest and a chance to get back to winning ways. The pre-season title favourites have won only two of their last six matches.

“Does the season start now? No, but I know what you mean. This match comes after the break and going into the Christmas period. We know that there is something special in that period. And you have to generate that momentum, and we feel that it is the right moment now for us to start building that momentum. We were unable to do it in terms of results earlier, which we wanted, but let’s do it now.”