Arsenal’s ‘toxic dressing room’ is adding to Mikel Arteta’s headache as the Gunners face their worst start since 1974-75.
Saturday's 2-1 loss at Goodison Park made it seven Premier League games without a win for Arteta's side, as the club linger around the relegation places heading towards Christmas.
As a result, it has been reported that several first-team players have become frustrated with Arteta's leadership and that he has ‘lost the dressing room’.
The Mirror have reported that several players are frustrated at not playing alongside 'big characters' Mesut Ozil and Sokratis after their exclusion from Arteta’s Premier League and Europa League squads.
Arteta did, however, respond to claims that he had lost the respect of his players last week. He said: I’ve said it many times, when you have the squad that we have at the moment for many circumstances, it’s impossible to have 31 happy players in the camp.
‘It’s impossible and I don’t know any club in the world that has that, but obviously when you lose again, these things are going to come out to try to put more pressure on and be disruptive. I’m not interested in any of that.’
He added: ‘I wouldn’t say you have to be a friend, but you need a level of chemistry and understanding and a relationship because in the end what you have to build has to be expressed by those players and they have to believe in what you’re trying to transmit to them.
‘They have to trust you as a man and your work needs to have a meaning when you speak to them.’
Nevertheless, the Arsenal hierarchy have declared their commitment to Arteta – stating that they will support him through January.
The club’s chiefs have also said they are looking to recruit a creative midfield player in the transfer window.
