Former Arsenal right-back Lee Dixon says the Gunners squad are very much enjoying the training sessions under manager Mikel Arteta. 

Dixon is close friends with former teammate Steve Bould, who is now the club’s Under 23 manager, and he claims that Bould has told him that the players are happy with how clear Arteta is with his tactical instructions and training methods:

“The training that goes on, the players understand what is needed of them. Steve Bould is a really good friend of mine and he’s been in a few sessions early on in the season when lockdown was going on. He was very impressed with what he was doing on the training pitch. He said his training is brilliant. The players really enjoy it. They are getting things from it. So, all of that stuff, the accountability in training, it goes onto a Saturday. You have to have it like that. It cannot be the other way around.”

It’s great to hear some insight from inside the camp. Arteta is certainly a much-admired coach but he still needs to translate that excellent coaching to more results on the pitch.

The FA Cup and Community Shield trophies show that progress is already being made under the Spaniard, but after three wins and three defeats in the first six league matches this campaign, it is very important to get more consistency in the league.

A good result against Manchester United tonight will certainly reinforce the feeling that Arteta is moving the club in the right direction.