Arteta - It has been stop-start for us

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are looking for consistency after enduring a stop-start opening to the season.

The Gunners beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield but have since lost several players to injury, meaning Arsene Wenger has rarely fielded an unchanged XI.

However, after three straight wins, Arteta believes Arsenal are starting to find more consistency in their performances - and they will take that into Tuesday’s clash with Anderlecht.

“We have been quite consistent but for me I think the fact that we drew three games in a row at home put us in a difficult perspective,” Arteta said.

“We had that disappointing result against Dortmund in the Champions League where we didn’t perform at all in my opinion, and after that we have been more consistent.

“I think we are [coming back to form], we have found a balance and we need to remind people that we had a lot of people injured and it was hard to pick the first XI three weeks in a row.

“It was the same for me. It was a bit stop-start and I found it hard. I played two or three games, then got a little injury two or three weeks, now I am getting back again. It is very frustrating because you want to hit form and maintain that level.

“Hopefully we are getting players back now, everybody is more consistent and fit and we are starting to see the best out of the players. Hopefully we continue keeping clean sheets as that makes it easier to win the games.”