Mikel Arteta has defied the odds to fulfil his unlikely Arsenal promise

It was an unlikely promise delivered under the bleakest of circumstances, but Mikel Arteta reassured Arsenal fans the situation would improve following the 5-0 mauling by Manchester City in late August.

In a game remembered for Granit Xhaka's brainless red card, Ferran Torres' brilliance and Pep Guardiola humbling his former apprentice, Arteta insisted there were positives for the Gunners to take forward.

The Spaniard claimed Arsenal "were in control of the game" before Ilkay Gundogan's opener and even declared his side had City "exactly where we wanted to" in the early stages.

Arsenal's capitulation at the Etihad came after a 2-0 defeat at Brentford on the opening day and a comprehensive loss at home to Chelsea via the same scoreline, so Arteta's comments understandably ruffled some feathers among the fanbase.

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The Arsenal boss was quickly installed as the bookmakers' favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked, but he insisted there was a pathway to recovery after losing the first three games of the league season by an aggregate scoreline of 9-0.

"For me it is pride and more willingness to change the situation," Arteta told BBC MOTD.

"A lot has happened in the last three weeks. We are in a difficult position.

"The international break will do us some good to recover some of the big players we are missing at the moment.

"Hopefully we come back we are in a better place."

Arsenal returned to action after the September internationals and put together a run of three consecutive victories, embarking on an unbeaten run which lasted until a heavy defeat by Liverpool in November.

The north Londoners suffered further setbacks against Manchester United and Everton in early December, but that has not stopped their recovery from 20th to fourth in the table, a remarkable rise over the course of four months.

Arteta saw potential in his youthful squad even when there was growing clamour for him to face the axe.

Emile Smith Rowe's free-scoring form has been a revelation, the centre-back partnership of Benjamin White and Gabriel has blossomed, while Aaron Ramsdale has exceeded expectations with a brilliant start at the Emirates; they are just a handful of Arsenal's standout performers this season.

Away from the chase for Champions League qualification, the Gunners are two semi-final legs with Liverpool away from a trip to Wembley.

So, even though he will not be in the dugout on Saturday, Arteta has lived up to his bold promise, and Arsenal take on City in a infinitely-superior condition compared to four months ago.