Arsenal need to find consistency "pretty quickly" under Mikel Arteta, according to the club's all-time record goalscorer Thierry Henry. Arsenal are 10th in the Premier League table following Sunday's 2-1 north London derby win over Tottenham. The Gunners' hopes of playing European football next season may rest on whether they can win the Europa League this term.
Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season in charge at the Emirates, which Henry claims bought the Spaniard some breathing space.
Henry can see progress in the Arsenal side but says a lack of consistency is their main problem.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, the Frenchman said: “First and foremost, I would say yes, in a way [there has been progress], because I think Mikel brought himself some time by winning the FA Cup last year.
“I know people will tell me, ‘yes, that’s last year’, but the way he won it and the team he won it against, I think brought him some time with the Arsenal fans and with the team because at the end of the day you have something to show at the end of the season.
Arsenal news: Thierry Henry says Mikel Arteta's side need to find consistency (Image: GETTY/SKY SPORTS)
“Now, what I think the team is lacking is consistency. I know people always use the word consistency, it’s a big word, but this is what they need to do."
Henry says there is quality in the Arsenal side but believes they should be in a better position than they are.
But ultimately he admits the table doesn't lie and that big improvements are needed in the months and years ahead.
“Right now, I think the squad is good. Can it be better, yes?" he added.
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Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season in charge (Image: EXPRESS)
“Was there any progress? I think there was progress.
“Was there any structure, are they doing better? The table doesn’t lie at the end of the day. Although you won yesterday, you’re still behind Tottenham and still behind a lot of teams.
“But it is a process, he said it himself, it is a process that soon is going to explode.
“Hopefully it’s going to explode very soon but consistency needs to happen pretty quickly.”
Meanwhile, Henry insists he is keen to return to management after leaving his role at Montreal Impact last month.