Arteta unfazed by Song exit

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta insists that the Gunners will be able to cope without Alex Song following his recent departure to Barcelona.

The Cameroon international sealed a 15-million-pound move to the Catalan giants this week, ending a seven-year stay with the north London club.

Despite speaking glowingly of his partnership with Song, the Spaniard expressed his belief that Arsenal’s display against Sunderland showed they have the depth to overcome his exit.

“I felt really comfortable when I played with Alex last year, he was a terrific player, but if he and the club decided that the best option was for him to leave we have to accept it,” he told the club’s official website.

“I think we are good enough to carry on without him. We are looking good. We looked really organised on Saturday, just maybe in the final third we didn’t take the chances we should have done.”

New signing Olivier Giroud was guilty of a glaring miss on his Premier League debut as the Gunners were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw, but Arteta has called for fans to be patient with the club’s new faces.

“It will take a while because there have been some new players coming in and we are building a new team,” he said.

“We have lost some important players too, so we will need some time. We know that our new players can make the difference as well.

“We will have to give them a chance to settle into a new place.”