Mikel Arteta emphasised the importance of consistency as we approach another big game against Aston Villa on Saturday, December 6.
The boss feels that we’ll need to be at our best if we are to take all three points from a Villa side who have won their last six games in all competitions.
“The way they’ve been playing and winning matches, certainly it’s a team that is in great form,” Mikel said at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday.
“We obviously know the manager and the incredible job he’s done there as well, so we know the task tomorrow but we always take it as an opportunity.”
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Despite a difficult fixture schedule in recent weeks, we’ve remained unbeaten in our last 18 games in all competitions, and Mikel was asked about our attitude heading into another big game.
“Consistency, again, to perform at the highest level and win another game and then we’ll go back to the same question, to the Champions League, and then next weekend, because that’s the nature of the game.
“That’s exactly how we have to take it every game, every time you win a game, obviously you are a little bit closer to your objective and it’s the only thing that we can do.
“We have to focus on performing, preparing really well for tomorrow, we know the kind of game that we’re going to play and be ready for it to fulfil our potential.”
The Villains’ impressive form of late has lifted them to third in the Premier League table, prompting talk of a potential title challenge for Unai Emery’s side.
Asked if he sees Villa as a threat, Mikel praised the quality of our upcoming opposition.
“I think the collective threat that they have in terms of how they generate chances and what they do so well, then obviously the quality that they have in front from different players.
“If they continue where they are already, so if they continue what they’ve been doing, I think any club, any team in that position has chances for sure.”
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