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Manuel Almunia backs Mikel Arteta to take Arsenal back to the top

Almunia backs Arteta to take Arsenal back to the top
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Former Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia backs Mikel Arteta to take the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has backed Mikel Arteta to transform the Gunners into a side capable of challenging for the Premier League title.

Arteta has endured a mixed start to life in the Emirates dugout since replacing Unai Emery, winning eight, drawing six and losing two of his first 16 games in charge.

Nevertheless, Almunia, who made 175 appearances for Arsenal between 2004 and 2012, believes that Arteta is the right man to lead his former side back to the top of English football.

Speaking to Marca, Almunia said: "With Arsenal, as the big club that they are, it's a shame to see them like this. For the history, infrastructure, British and global fans and the attraction in general, they should be in the Champions League and higher up in the league.

"Sooner or later, they'll be among the best again and I'm sure Mikel will help with that. He was a player not long ago.

"He's shared the dressing room with some of the players he coaches now and he knows what modern football is like and he'll know what the best thing for them is. He has to be given time.

"With trophies, I imagine it's a question of eras and a big title can break the ice. From there, the players will believe that they can win more and that's momentum."

Arsenal currently lie ninth in the Premier League table amid the coronavirus postponement, eight points off the Champions League places.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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