Mikel Arteta admits he has been ‘suffering’ with Arsenal’s ‘draining, frustrating and painful’ form

Mikel Arteta has conceded that Arsenal‘s disappointing form this season has caused him a lot of suffering.

The club ended a seven-match winless run in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory against Chelsea on Saturday.

Arsenal, despite winning their first domestic game since November 1, still lie in 15th, just six points off 18th-placed Fulham and the relegation zone.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (right) has admitted feeling mental anguish at the club’s poor form

Arteta’s Arsenal have slumped embarrassingly towards the Premier League relegation zone

And the Spaniard admitted feeling annoyance and mental anguish at the Gunners’ underperformance this campaign.

He said after the match: ‘Obviously results-wise in the last few weeks we have all been suffering, I have been suffering. I feel very responsible. I want to do so well for this football club and at the moment we are in, I want to bring all my passion, the knowledge that I have, the right intentions to move as quickly as we possibly can.

‘In order to do that we need to win football matches, to be stable and win some time. When I don’t, I feel like I am letting the club down and the people who work for us, and obviously our fans. 

But the Gunners beat Chelsea 3-1 on Saturday in the Premier League with a spirited showing

‘It is draining, it is frustrating and it is painful. At the same time I know we have to fight our way back.

‘In difficult moments (it) is when you see the right people, they give me a lot of encouragement because I see people that are willing to fight with me, with the people that we have here – it gives me energy every day to carry on doing it.’ 

Despite the impressive and spirited win against Frank Lampard‘s side, Arsenal have still lost more than half their league games.

Before that Arteta’s side had not won domestically in seven matches since November 1

Sportsmail reported on Sunday that the Gunners dressing room is divided over whether to recall £350,000-a-week outcast Mesut Ozil to the squad in January.

Arsenal icon Liam Brady also slammed the club’s recent recruitment and stated his belief they would be ‘treading water for the next few years.’

Arteta’s side travels to Brighton on Tuesday in a match between 15th and 16th.