Interview

Arteta - 'We have to go to a different level'

Mikel Arteta believes his side can keep improving, after we secured a well-deserved 2-0 win over bottom-placed Newcastle.

After a goalless first half, the Gunners finally made one of their chances count before the hour mark, and doubled the lead through an excellent finish from Gabriel Martinelli.

But the boss wants his side to be more ruthless after taking the lead, and said there were moments when we nearly let the visitors back into the game.

"Yeah, after the 2-0 we know we have to go to a different level as a team. We gave too many sloppy balls away and weren't organised in the press and we allowed them to run a few times and it created a different feeling.

"That's the moment that we have to give even more, and go for the third or the fourth and make another step forward."

"We had moments in the first half when we took the game where we wanted, but without really hurting them enough, and not playing with enough urgency and probably quality as well."

The team are sure to be tested next month, when we play seven Premier League games in what could be a crucial December programme.

"You mention with the number of games that we have to play, and you will see what happens in the league table, so let's go game by game," Arteta added.