Arshavin tells Arteta ‘the point’ Arsenal must address ahead of Spurs clash

Andriy Arshavin has told Mikel Arteta that Arsenal must improve as a team, if they are to secure European football next season.

The Gunners find themselves eight points off the top-six, with just 11 Premier League games remaining.

They can close that gap with a win over fierce rivals Tottenham in this weekend’s North London derby, but even with three points, it remains a tall task.

It’s more likely that Mikel Arteta’s side will need to win the Europa League, a competition which would secure them Champions League football if they go all the way.

And Arshavin, who played alongside Arteta during his playing days, believes that without realising their potential as a unit, they will fall short.

“Comparing with their performance in the English league, of course, it’s completely different in the Europa League,” he told UEFA’s official site. “Arsenal were so strong [in the group stage].

"They went through the group stage very easily, but now, of course, they’re expecting much stronger opposing teams.

“I like some young players like [Bukayo] Saka, but you know, always, if you want to win, you have to talk about the team performance. It's more important.

“One player can of course decide one game, maybe two games, but to go all the way through, you must be strong as a team.

“This is a point for Mikel Arteta: to get everyone together.”

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Ahead of the clash with Spurs, Arshavin has singled out Son Heung-Min as a player to look out for, with the South Korean in the midst of his best season in England, with 34 goal involvements in 40 games.

“I had the chance to play against Son when he played for Bayer Leverkusen, and I think his style is similar to me in position on the pitch. He was a left winger, he went in the middle, he could go through by dribbling or shooting.

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