Since Arsene Wenger first arrived at the north London club in 1996 and the following quarter of a century, Arsenal were constantly part of European club tournaments. Season 2021/22 came and the Gunners are mere spectators – and it does not bode well with the Spanish manager Mikel Arteta.Arteta admits he cannot enjoy watching European football now that Arsenal are no longer involved. But says he is using their Euro exile to rebuild unity at the club.With a strong Premier League campaign, former Arsenal midfielder hopes his team will welcome European clubs and travel across continental pitches.Brighton and Newcastle have forgotten what it’s like to win a football match! It finishes 1-1 on the south coastIt is painful for Arteta to see seven other English clubs playing in Europe, especially London rivals Tottenham, Chelsea and West Ham. Nevertheless, the 39-year-old hopes to turn the situation to his team’s advantage – the extra time can be utilized time on the training ground.’I am still struggling to see it that way because every time there is a European week I don’t enjoy watching it,’ he admitted ahead of today’s home game against Watford.’But that is the situation, we have to make the most of it, and hopefully we can benefit from that. We try to maximise the exposure we have with the players, to get ideas across, to spend more time together and compete better when we have the opportunity.’Today at the Emirates Stadium – Arteta will manage Arsenal’s first squad for the 100th time and his counterpart this afternoon, Claudio Ranieri, had nothing but praises for his much younger colleague.A massive point for the Premier League strugglers – Burnley hold Chelsea to a goal-each drawThe Italian, who will be going into his 1,198th match as a manager, hold high regards for what the Spaniard has been building.’I think he (Arteta) has built a very good team,’ said Ranieri. ‘They’re playing very well.’They play very direct football, but when they have the time to start a counterattack it is fantastic to watch, it is very fast.’They play fantastic football. Well done to Arteta for that.’Ranieri lives through a mixed-success return to the Premier League (5-0 loss to Liverpool, 5-2 win over Everton, 1-0 loss to Southampton) and it obviously hasn’t been easy. The 70-year-old stresses out that that people should be more respectful of the job managers do.’We (managers) try to do a fantastic job, but this is not an easy job,’ said Ranieri.’You must always have a high-level of respect because whoever works in football, you must have maximum respect because it is not easy.’Arsenal could leapfrog Manchester United and sit into fifth place should they defeat 16th placed Hornets of Watford.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored six goals in his five #PL appearances against Watford 🔥He netted brace in both meetings with the Hornets in the 2019/20 campaign#ARSWAT | @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/mudMQnIgyK— Premier League (@premierleague) November 7, 2021 PREMIER LEAGUE – Round 11FridaySouthampton – Aston Villa 1-0 (1-0)/Armstrong 3/SaturdayMan.Utd – Man.City 0-2 (0-2)/Bailly 7 og, Silva 45/Brentford – Norwich 1-2 (0-2)/Henry 60 – Normann 6, Pukki 29 pen/Chelsea – Burnley 1-1 (0-1)/Havertz 33 – Vydra 80/Crystal Palace – Wolverhampton 2-0 (0-0)/Zaha 61, Gallagher 78/Brighton – Newcastle 1-1 (1-0)/Trossard 24 pen – Hayden 66/Sunday17.00: (1.42) Arsenal (4.80) Watford (8.50)17.00: (3.05) Everton (3.25) Tottenham (2.55)17.00: (2.95) Leeds (3.40) Leicester (2.55)19.30: (4.50) West Ham (3.80) Liverpool (1.85)***odds are subject to change
