EPL: Gunners keen to reload

Arsenal’s Willian (right) celebrates scoring his team’s third goal against West Brom during their EPL match in London on Sunday. Pic/AFP

Mikel Arteta says he needs unity and stability as he seeks to return Arsenal to the top echelon of the Premier League after a disappointing campaign. The Gunners, languishing in ninth place in the table, look set to miss out on European competition for the first time in 25 years. Arteta, whose side travel to in-form Chelsea on Wednesday, was asked whether he was upset by criticism from former players after last week's Europa League semi-final exit.

Opinions welcome

"I think everybody is entitled to give their opinions and when they have the chance to do that, they have to say what they feel," he said. "It's nothing for me to say. I cannot control that. If you ask me what I would like to have around the team and around everything that is related to the football club, is that we have the unity and stability to work. But if it's not the case, it's nothing that I can do."

Supporters have mounted protests against US owner Stan Kroenke, angry over the club's involvement in the doomed breakaway European Super League and the team's poor results.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Arteta said the only way to shift fans' views was to improve performances on the pitch. "The only thing I can be judged on is do I create the necessary environment for a top, elite team to compete at the higher level and get everybody in the condition to do their best?" he asked. "And after that, do I get the best out of the players that I have? This is how I judge myself and at the end, in the outside world, how I am going to be judged is just with results, nothing else." The Spaniard said he felt the club had made progress in many areas despite their dismal results.

Lot of work required

"There are so many things to do because we already have a lot of players on loan and a lot of players with contracts still that we need to sort," he added. "It will depend what happens with a lot of those players and what we are able to recruit to improve the team, that is going to determine where we are."

Fulham relegated after loss to Burnley

London: Fulham were relegated from the Premier League with a 2-0 loss at home to Burnley on Monday that assured the Clarets of their top-flight status. London club Fulham will now join already-demoted West Brom and Sheffield United in the second-tier Championship next season. Fulham had to avoid defeat at Craven Cottage on Monday to maintain their slim hopes of beating the drop. But first-half goals from Burnley's Ashley Westwood and Chris Wood put paid to their chances of staying up.

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