BBC pundit praises Mikel Arteta after Arsenal loss at Southampton

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Garth Crooks has praised Mikel Arteta despite Arsenal losing again at the weekend, telling BBC Sport that the Gunners boss has done better than he anticipated, no matter where they finish this season.

Arsenal have now fallen to sixth in the Premier League table after a 1-0 loss against Southampton on Saturday. The Gunners now find themselves on a three-match losing run.

They have gone from being the clear favourites for fourth spot and a return to the Champions League, to now facing a huge battle to get back in front of Tottenham and Manchester United.

It would be agonising to miss out at this stage. But Arsenal have largely enjoyed an encouraging campaign. Few would have expected them to go anywhere the sharp end of the table when they lost their opening three games.

And it is still in their own hands. Arsenal have a game in hand over Tottenham. And there is one more North London derby to be played this season.

Crooks fears for their top-four position. However, he insisted that Arteta still deserves credit for the work he has done no matter how the campaign concludes.

“Arsenal, on the other hand, are starting to look like a team who are running out of steam. I must admit, regardless of where they finish this season, Mikel Arteta has done a much better job than I had anticipated,” he told BBC Sport.

Big summer needed for Mikel Arteta at Arsenal as top-four hopes hang in balance

Mikel Arteta has earned a lot of plaudits for rebuilding Arsenal. And they now boast an exciting squad with plenty of potential.

However, they showed that they had the quality to get to the line. And yet, they have started to fall away.

This recent run of results highlights how important it is that Arsenal enjoy a busy summer. Arteta has silenced many of his critics. But the level of expectation has risen as the season has gone on.

A similar patch of form in similar circumstances this time next year will see Arteta judged a lot harsher.