Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has spoken about lifting spirits after their recent run of results.

The Gunners have been suffering in the Premier League, dropping behind Tottenham in the race to finish in the top four after three successive defeats.

They take on Chelsea in mid-week, before a vital clash at home against Manchester United on Saturday.

Asked about how he is lifting spirits, Arteta told reporters: "Very clear on them. Very clear with why we have lost the games and then give them more support and confidence and be behind them because it is what they need and what we are going to need altogether between here and the end of the season.

"When things go well it's easy. It's all about 'we' but when things don't go that well, maybe it's about 'him'. I hate that and I'm the first one to try to apply myself to do that, defend out players, protect them and let them be who they've been because they've ben pretty good to be fair."