Arsenal manager backs players, calls for calm ahead of Fulham clash

After a poor outing against West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has backed his players to bounce back while calling for calm among supporters ahead of their trip to Fulham.

Arsenal lost 0-2 at home against the Hammers on Thursday, marking their first defeat at the Emirates.

Despite many chances created, Arsenal failed to bury their attempts in the net as the visitors ran away with the whole three points available in the encounter.

Reacting to the chances that failed to be converted, Arteta said he has taken the positive side of that and feels a similar attacking display will almost certainly yield better results.

“It’s no panic, it’s about trying to do more, do better and win games,” Mikel said in his pre-Fulham press conference. “If the team plays like this, they are going to win lots of games.

“It’s a record [for touches in the box], so I don’t think there are many teams in the league that have done that for many years. That’s something very positive I think, he told Arsenal.com.

“Without a spark, you don’t generate what the team generates [against West Ham], it’s impossible. But it’s the final thing, the final touch, the final action that puts the ball in the net or not, and that’s what we need.”

Reflecting on the possibility of dropping to fourth, he added: “We can be second as well, and winning we can be first so we have to do what we can control.

“There’s no time to look at other teams. You see how difficult it is for other teams and it’s going to continue to be like that because the level of the league is incredible.”