Arteta expects Arsenal progress after West Brom win, backs Aubameyang to find form

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is banking on the momentum from their current form to propel them further up in the Premier League table.

The Gunners defeated West Brom 4-0 on Saturday at a snowy Hawthorns to claim their third straight win in the Premier League and ease relegation fears.

“It’s always tough to win away from home and the way we’ve done it was in a really convincing way, especially in this difficult weather but I’m really pleased,” Arteta told Arsenal.com.

“It’s three in a row now in the last week and we talked about the importance of this week for us and to be able to win all three of them is really important.”

The Gunners were bright and lively as Kieran Tierney, Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette scored to take them to 11th in the table, and Arteta was understandably impressed.

When asked if that was the kind of Arsenal he wanted to see regularly, Arteta replied in the affirmative.

He said: “Yes. There were moments that I thought we were really good both defensively and offensively and attacking-wise we had movement that is exactly what I want and exactly what we try and teach the players to do. 

“In other moments we became a little bit sloppy in certain moments when we thought that the game was won. That’s something we have to improve. But overall it’s close to what we want.

The 38-year-old Spaniard believes his side can build on their form.

“The energy and the convincing momentum that you get from everybody that is involved is much more positive,” he noted.

“I wasn’t that concerned with the performances. We lost games where I felt we were really unlucky and most of them it was our own fault because we made some errors and we lacked some discipline in certain moments. 

“But obviously you need to win football matches and now this brings a different momentum, energy and as well the players get the handbrake off and you can see that they are more free to play.

“When I talk about the energy, when you are in a moment where you are winning and playing with confidence, you can see that you can transmit that. The body language is better and you have that enthusiasm that wins help massively for you to build. 

“When we were going through a difficult moment, I said that the most important thing is to maintain the team spirit and the belief that we would turn things around and belief in what we are trying to do. This week, obviously, is paying the price for the way that we have been going together through that period.”

When he was asked if that was the closest  to playing like a team with his imprint, Arteta replied: “Well, this is an Arsenal team with the idea of what I want with our staff to transmit to the players to play, but in certain moments it was very close to that, yes.”

Arsenal’s main man in attack Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has found goals difficult to come by this season, scoring only three goals in 15 Premier League matches, one in his last seven appearances.

Arteta is however confident the Gabon captain will start firing again soon.

“I keep saying, we can’t keep putting all the weight on Auba’s shoulders to score the goals,” Arteta said.

“We need contributions. The midfielders need to score more  and give more assists, and we need goals from our wingers as well. 

“Laca is in great form and has scored five goals in his last four games, which is what we need from our strikers. Auba had some chances today to score and it was the same in the last game or so, but I am so pleased because in the final third we looked lively and there was a lot of movement. There is good energy, there is a real purpose and everybody is playing forwards. It’s like we are free to play there and the understanding is allowing us to generate a lot of things there.”