Arsenal's start to last season feels like a distant memory and couldn't be more of a contrast to the way the Gunners have began the current campaign. Mikel Arteta's side started last season with three consecutive defeats, which left the Gunners rock-bottom of the Premier League table.
Arsenal started the current campaign with five straight wins before suffering their first defeat in a 3-1 loss against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The mood around the Emirates Stadium is vastly improved, with genuine hope that the Gunners will experience success this season in both the league and in Europe.
However, to get this far, Arteta had to see out that tough spell at the beginning of last term, which left him feeling the pressure. The Gunners lost their opening three games by an aggregate score of 9-0, as they were seen off comfortably by Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City.
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Ultimately, Arsenal did improve, following that winless run up by going eight games unbeaten. Their current position in the Premier League table highlights the extent of Arsenal's improvement over the last 13 months, but Arteta - speaking before their impressive 3-0 win at Brentford - has admitted that the start of last season was a difficult period for him on a personal level.
"I doubted myself, I questioned myself," Arteta told Sky Sports News. "This is part of a journey where if you want to get better, you have to be self-critical and you have to have people around you who tell you the truth.
"You have to have the humbleness to always be willing to improve and get better."
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