Mikel Arteta has been named Premier League manager of the Month after guiding Arsenal to three wins out of four Premier League games in March.

Arsenal currently sit in fourth place, three points ahead of Tottenham, but with a game in hand. A position few would have predicted at the start of the season.

During March, Arsenal beat Aston Villa, Leicester, and Watford, scoring six goals in those matches and conceding two.

Their only defeat came against Liverpool.

Arteta was up against Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Brendan Rodgers for the award for March.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1509862641300295686

Speaking at his pre-Crystal Palace press conference about the season’s run-in, Arteta said, “For me it’s crucial because it’s the platform and the cement that you can build on.

“Then obviously you need the players, you need the quality, the understanding. You need the club and the supporters to be on board with what you are doing, to support it, encourage it. This is what we try to do.

“I will have them all in today [Thursday], just try to refocus them, obviously. When they’re on international duty all the time they’re being asked to do different things, different roles, different kind of pressures.

“For some of them, it was their first international, so emotionally for them as well it’s very draining. We’ll make sure that everyone is fine and looking forward to the challenge that we have ahead.”