Mikel Arteta hits back at Jamie Carragher criticism of Arsenal’s start to season

Mikel Arteta has insisted he is perfectly happy with his Arsenal side, despite claims they have yet to hit the heights this season.

The Gunners moved to the Premier League summit last weekend, leapfrogging Manchester City with their win at Brentford. But that victory in West London was another one which came after a somewhat laboured performance.

Arsenal huffed and puffed vs the Bees and only sealed all three points through a late Kai Havertz header. And while results can’t be questioned, Jamie Carragher has suggested they are less fluent, with their attacking players struggling for top form.

But Arteta, speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Lens, said their extra solidity has them in prime position. “I take satisfaction from where we are,” he explained.

“We have to find a way to be where we want to be. This is exactly where we want to be. It’s not going to be as fluent, it’s not going to be as hectic because there’s no space to run.

Arteta added: “When you’re sitting in traffic I want to go 100 miles an hour but I have three buses and 55 taxis and motorbikes around me, so it’s tricky. We need to want to get to where we want to get. In order to do that we have to be really solid - and we’ve been really, really solid.”

The Gunners have conceded a league low 10 goals in 13 top-flight matches, but their 27 goals scored is only the sixth best. And Sky Sports pundit Carragher suggested that unless their attacking stars dramatically improve, they will be unable to go one better than their second-placed finish last term.

"We are only a third of the way through the season but if this is the Arsenal we are going to see this season I don't think they can win the league," he said on Monday Night Football.

"So many games