Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta makes frank admission ahead of Leeds United test

The Arsenal head coach has had his say.
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Mikel Arteta has admitted his Arsenal outfit are a 'long way' from where he wants them to be ahead of this weekend's clash with Leeds United.

The Whites host the Gunners at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon in Premier League action following the November international break.

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Arteta's side were well beaten 3-0 at the Emirates by Aston Villa last time out while Marcelo Bielsa's side fell to their second straight 4-1 defeat in the top flight at Crystal Palace.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta. (Getty)Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta. (Getty)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta. (Getty)

Arsenal sit 11th in the division on 12 points, having won four and lost four of their opening eight games this season.

Leeds, meanwhile, are two points behind in 15th and have taken three points just once in their last five outings.

Arteta has conceded that his Gunners squad are well below where he wants them to be but says it is part of a longer process, after taking charge in North London nearly a year ago.

"We're a long way [away], I'm afraid," he said.

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"It's part of a process. The results have to be immediate, and the challenge we have with the club we are representing is that we have to win as quickly as possible every game in every competition.

"So far we have played 14 games in all competitions this season, we won 10 and lost four and the four of them have been in the Premier League, so it is a little bit imbalanced.

"There are a lot of things to do, short term and medium term, we have seen a lot of changes not only on the pitch but structurally as a club as well, it's been difficult, it's been a challenging time in the last three or four months, a lot of things have happened.

"We have to settle and everyone has to realise where we are now, but I see the future as really bright. I am a really positive person and I tend to learn much more when things don't go well and we have a defeat like we had the other day that really hurt after the performance we had at Old Trafford.

"We have to understand why it happened, be really critical first of all with myself and try to understand the players better, and give them more solutions to win more football matches."

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