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Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal have lost ruthless streak

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta calls on his side to become more "ruthless" after their dip in form has seen them slip into the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that his team are "lacking ruthlessness" amid their recent dip in form.

The Gunners appeared to have turned their fortunes around at the start of the year, but back-to-back defeats to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa has seen them slip to 11th in the Premier League table.

Arteta has already admitted that his side - who sit nine points adrift of the Champions League places - are not realistically capable of challenging for the top four, and the Spaniard has urged his side to find their ruthless streak again.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Arteta said: "We are lacking ruthlessness, at the moment, because we gave a goal away, and we gave another two big chances away ourselves against Villa.

"We gave the game away against Wolves. We had the chances to put the game to bed and even when you make a mistake you have to try and correct it and be ruthless in the opponent's box, and we didn't do that either.

"So then you're not going to win football matches. Leeds are a really brave, dynamic and energetic team that goes for the three points all the time - constantly attacking, constantly a threat, constantly pressing.

"First you have to match and improve their energy levels, and then you have to play your game and try to take it where we want and not where they want. If you do that you have a good chance to win."

Leeds United sit one point and one place ahead of Arsenal - who have played a game more - before Sunday afternoon's showdown at the Emirates Stadium.

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured in February 2021
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal37275589286186
2Manchester CityMan City36267391335885
3Liverpool372310484414379
4Aston Villa37208976562068
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs361961171591263
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361761379572257
7Chelsea361691173611257
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd36166145256-454
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton361212125458-448
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616


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