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Mikel Arteta felt there were “a lot of positives” to take from a defeat to Manchester City but wants his Arsenal side to be more efficient.
City replaced the Gunners at the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 win at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Arsenal, who have a game in hand on the champions, are without a win in four matches in all competitions and need a response when they travel for a reunion with former boss Unai Emery and his Aston Villa side on Saturday.
However, manager Arteta is confident Arsenal can rediscover the sort of form that had at one stage given them an eight-point cushion over City at the summit.
“I know the right things we have to do to continue to be there [at the top],” the Spaniard said.
“We have seen where the level is and what we have to do to be at that level. There are a lot of positive things to take, for sure, from the season so far [and the loss to City].
“We know that the level of efficiency has to be good with every single game to beat them [City] at the end.
“We are highly motivated to do that.”
He added of the defeat to Pep Guardiola’s men: “You have to give credit to a team when they beat you, but when you analyse the game again, I think we lost it.”
Arteta says Arsenal are relishing the opportunity to return to the top of the table when they face Villa.
He said: “It is normal that you want to get maximum points, which we didn’t in the last few games. We have to improve because we want to win more games.
“So we are highly motivated for tomorrow’s game because we want to perform well and win the game.”
Meanwhile, Arteta condemned the behaviour of fans who threw objects at City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who opened the scoring in the blockbuster midweek clash.
“Our fans were extraordinary in the game with their level of support and the way they helped to inspire the team,” he said.
“There was an incident at the end that no-one is going to tolerate within this stadium and the club is investigating.”
