The next week is crucial for Arsenal's season, says Arteta

COMPLETE SHOTLIST AND SCRIPT TO FOLLOW

VIDEO SHOWS: NEWS CONFERENCES WITH ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA AND CHELSEA MANAGER, FRANK LAMPARD, RECENT AND FILE FOOTAGE OF MIKEL ARTETA, RECENT CHELSEA TRAINING FOOTAGE

SHOWS:

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 22, 2020) (ARSENAL HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, SAYING:

"Yes, absolutely. I think the next seven to eight days are going to be crucial to see where we're going to be heading in the Premier League for us."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, SAYING:

"Yes, but we're trying to respond every week and for different reasons we're not picking up results. It happened the last time against Burnley; a game that we should be winning. It happened against Southampton, it happened against Everton and we have to turn things around. This bad luck or these things that are affecting our results have to change dramatically because with those margins it's very complicated to win football matches in the Premier League and then we have the opportunity on a very special day here at home against Chelsea so let's do it."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, SAYING:

"The best boost, the best medicine when you are in this situation is to win a football match. Every defeat is another hurting moment, it's another moment of disappointment, it's another moment that you have to lift up yourself and that takes a lot of energy so I think the best medicine for all of us would be to come here against Chelsea, beat them and then move from there. And this is exactly what we all need."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, SAYING:

"I think I've been very clear, many moments that we're losing football matches that is my responsibility to put that right. And regardless what they do I think it's been us, not many times the opponent, it's been us, the one that has let ourselves down and it's down to us to change it. So, it's… I don't think I've ever used an excuse."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, SAYING:

"I have to and I will keep doing it when I see that they are really trying and they're trying to do the best thing and then mistakes, errors, whatever happens. I will support them until the last day and this is the way I believe that I have to do it and of course they have to play on the pitch and they have to put the performances and we're here to help them as much as possible and we have to accept that at the moment it's nowhere near enough."

LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 2, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2020")

10. ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA (LEFT) TALKING WITH FITNESS COACH, BARRY SOLAN

11. ARTETA KICKING BALL AROUND WITH COACHING STAFF

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - DECEMBER 20, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

12. ARSENAL MANAGER, MIKEL ARTETA, WALKING OUT ONTO THE EMIRATES STADIUM PITCH AFTER BEING UNVEILED AS THE CLUB'S NEW BOSS

13. ARTETA HOLDING ARSENAL SHIRT

STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 24, 2020) (CHELSEA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, FRANK LAMPARD, SAYING:

"I don't talk about what their (Arsenal's) battle is. They're just a good team with a good manager. They've had some tough results recently but the general wave of the Premier League this season for every team has been more inconsistent than it's been in probably previous seasons for as I say most teams so… But my concern is not where they're at. My concern is the team at face value in terms of quality and they're a high quality team."

15. WHITE FLASH

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, FRANK LAMPARD, SAYING:

"Well it's our job as managers to do that and expectations are high for many teams in the Premier League whatever the bar that seemingly set from the outside world - the fans, the social media world, punditry, media, everything I think is something you cannot control. So, you must work day today and if it's off the back of we had two defeats last week and it's my job to pick the players up focus on what's important, bring positivity, real positivity, not fake positivity to try and change that but we're seeing a lot of teams have difficult periods this season as well the unexpected periods because of the volatile situation, the lack of pre-season, the scheduling. All these things have been contributing factors and everyone will have their own take on that but again if we're going back to Arsenal, they're a high-quality team. So, I'm absolutely not thinking about form on this one. I'm thinking about the team in front of us."

STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 7, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2020")

17. VARIOUS OF CHELSEA TRAINING IN PROGRESS

STORY: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said his players have lacked confidence but they have never lacked the fight to get a result as they look to end their winless Premier League run against Chelsea on Saturday (December 26).

Arsenal have not won their last seven league games, which includes five defeats, while they were also dumped out of the League Cup by Manchester City in a 4-1 home loss on Tuesday (December 22).

Arteta said the next seven days will be crucial for their season as they play Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Bromwich Albion between Saturday and January 2.

"The best medicine in these situations is to win a football match. Every defeat is another hurting moment, another disappointment, another moment that you have to lift yourself up, and that takes a lot of energy," Arteta told reporters.

Some players have been criticised for their performance, but Arteta said that the responsibility to turn things around fell squarely on his shoulders and that he would shield the squad as long as they remained committed to the cause.

"I have to (shield the players) and I will keep doing it when I see that they are trying their best," he said. "Whatever mistakes happen, I will support them till the last day."

Arteta said they could learn from Chelsea's response when they lost two in a row to come back with a win but also blamed "bad luck" for recent results which dropped Arsenal to 15th, four points above the relegation zone.

"We're trying to respond every week and for different reasons we're not picking up results. We should have won against Burnley, against Southampton, against Everton," Arteta said.

"We have to turn things around. This bad luck affecting our results has to change dramatically because with those margins it's very complicated to win matches in the Premier League."

Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remains a doubt with a calf strain while winger Gabriel Martinelli will also be assessed after he sustained bruising to his shin.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard meanwhile said Arsenal's poor form means nothing as he prepares his team for the London derby.

The London side are fifth in the table with 25 points from 14 games, two points behind second-placed Leicester City ahead of Saturday's trip to local rivals Arsenal who have slipped to 15th.

Chelsea have lost their previous two away games - at Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers - and are hoping to avoid a third straight league defeat on the road for the first time since February last year.

(Production: Tim Hart)