MIKEL ARTETA has revealed he dragged Arsenal from rock bottom by telling them their bleak weakness could be their peak strength.
In a trailer for Amazon’s new documentary All or Nothing: Arsenal, the Gunners boss explained how he turned around their worst start to a top-flight season since 1954.
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Three heavy defeats in the opening three games last term left Arteta’s men below a trio of other point-less clubs.
After the Spaniard summed up the dire situation, fans are seen calling for his head – before the fly-on-the-wall clip switches to a stirring dressing-room warning to his team.
Arteta began by recalling: “We were bottom of the league – zero goals, zero points.”
Two fans then blast, respectively, ” It’s relegation form” and “Arteta’s gotta go”.
But back inside, Arteta confronted his devastated players with the blunt message: “That is when everyone’s against you. You are stronger.”
And the Gunners shot up to fifth after an incredible transformation.
In fact, a Champions League spot seemed assured, until Tottenham took advantage of their rivals’ late slump to nick them into fourth place.
Arsenal launched the campaign with a Friday the 13th horror story at Prem new boys Brentford, losing 2-0.
Then came an equally-deserved defeat by the same margin at home to Chelsea.
And Granit Xhaka’s first-half red card set up a 5-0 thumping at champions-to-be Manchester City.
But six wins and two draws followed, in a turnaround only ended bya 4-0 collapse at Liverpool November 20.
Now Arteta is looking to make at least two big signings in a bid to finish at least one spot higher this term.
Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus is edging close to a £45million-plus Emirates move.
And the Gunners are rivalling Newcastle and Chelsea for another Brazil star – Leeds winger Raphinha.
- The first three episodes of Amazon UK Original documentary series All or Nothing: Arsenal launch exclusively on Prime Video in August 4
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