Arteta – Preparation is Key

Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta believes that individual preparation is the major factor when it comes to a team producing a consistent run of results.

Speaking to Arsenal Player, the Spaniard spoke about the difference between consistency needed by players and by teams as a whole, and how difficult it is to win in the Premier League.

It is something different to be consistent individually and consistent as a team, they are two different things but in the end they are related. Now for someone to be consistent in the Premier League you have to win every week and compete at the highest level every week – but to compete for the Premier League is really, really hard.

Arteta also spoke about how preparing well as an individual is vital if you want to be successful in England’s top flight, and that if every member doesn’t do this preparation well, the team are at a big disadvantage.

To be consistent, I think individually you start with your own preparation, your mentality, your desire, the way you face every training session, the way you communicate with your other players and everything.

They cannot be lost by one per cent at any moment because that is [a] gift for the opposition so that is the minimum you can demand.

Arsenal have been able to put a run of good performances together in recent weeks after an inconsistent start, and now sit second place in the league table, just two points behind Manchester City.

The Citizens face a difficult trip to rivals Manchester United this weekend while Arsenal host Everton. If results go their way, the Gunners could find themselves top of the table after the weekend’s matches.