VIDEO: Arteta Responds to Aubameyang’s critics as Gunners eye friendly dates

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side have set the pace in the Premier League thus far, which has earned praise from Liam Brady, as the Gunners make plans for the World Cup.

Arsenal won their eighth Premier League game in nine outings when they saw off Liverpool on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s side have surprised many with their quality and consistency to set the pace domestically. The Spanish boss has copped his fair share of criticism during his time at the Emirates, but is proving many people wrong having been backed by the club’s hierarchy.

They continued their good form with a win in the Europa League on Thursday night, which kept up their perfect record in the competition. Ahead of the winter break for the World Cup the north Londoners are also looking to fill the void and remain primed.

Here are the latest headlines coming out of Arsenal.

Prem clubs eye friendlies

Premier League clubs are organising glamour friendlies during the World Cup.

Liverpool and Arsenal have already agreed to play AC Milan during their warm-weather training camps in Dubai. The Gunners are also looking at another big-name opponent having arranged to base themselves in the Middle East so players can fly in from Qatar once their World Cup campaigns are finished.

Dubai is just a 35-minute flight from Doha and other clubs are going to base themselves there to keep the players not involved in the tournament fit and fresh. Premier League bosses are planning to give those players some time off but then set up training camps before domestic fixtures restart on Boxing Day after the World Cup.

Brady happy to be wrong

Arsenal legend Liam Brady has claimed it is a “joy” to be a Gunners fan right now as he admitted he was wrong to doubt Mikel Arteta.

The Premier League leaders will seek to win a sixth consecutive match when they visit FK Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday night. It is a stark contrast to last season when Arsenal made their worst start for 67 years by losing their first three Premier League matches.

And 1979 FA Cup winner Brady, one of Arsenal’s greatest ever players, said: “I am delighted. Not only are we top of the league but we are playing some great football to watch. I have been to a few games at the Emirates this season and I am highly delighted with the way things are going.”

Arteta responds to PEA

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued a response after a video emerged which showed former club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang criticising the Spaniard.

“To manage big characters or big players, [Arteta] can’t deal with it,” Aubameyang told A Jewellers when still on Barcelona’s books. “He needs some young players, they don’t say anything, they listen.”

“People are free to discuss what they want,” Arteta said when quizzed on the matter. He was also asked about the atmosphere in the dressing room and couldn’t have been much more complimentary.