‘I get the award, but it’s for those behind it'

Mikel Arteta has paid tribute to his coaching staff and players after being named as the Premier League’s Manager of the Month for September.

The Spaniard guided us to three straight victories, against Norwich, Burnley and Tottenham - but said that couldn't have happened without real unity behind the scenes.

"I think [this award] represents the way everyone has been together, has been working and has been positive in difficult moments and continued to do their work with the right mentality, the right ambition and with the right work and direction," Mikel told Arsenal.com. 

"So it's for them. I get [the award] but it's for all the people behind it."

So how did Mikel and his staff turn it around after such a difficult start to the season?

 

"First of all [I had to] to transmit my belief in the players, my belief in every department and every person that is at the club, that they are doing the right things," he said.

"Reflect, change and tweak things that we can maybe do better as well, be critical with ourselves, and then have a positive picture in front of them. 

"They had to accept reality and we had to accept reality at the time, and we had to be willing to change it. When you find that inner force to do it, normally things have to come out somehow."