Arsenal fullback Hector Bellerin has defended the work of manager Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League last term, crashing out of both domestic cups and going out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage.

Speaking to the High Performance Podcast, however, Bellerin has highlighted Arteta's impact behind the scenes and the unseen improvements he has made as manager. “I think, personally, at Arsenal, [emphasis on small details] is something which has changed a lot," he said.

“The ethics and the way [we] work since Mikel has been the manager of the club have completely changed. These behaviours, our behaviours, have been rewarded by him.

“There's more emphasis on behaviours like the way we run back or the way we create space for a player.

“You can move to receive the ball, you can move to get a player [to move] away or move into space, there are so many ways that you can move.

“Sometimes a goal is created not by the player who passes the ball or the player who scores, but by the player that actually created that space and did what he had to do at that time.

“Many people among the fans, in the stands or even pundits sometimes, they won't see that. But, truly, that's what we've practised, that's what the coach has asked and, by the player doing that, we were able to score that goal.

“Even sometimes for the players it's hard to see, when other teams do it and stuff. But we know, in our dressing room and in the way that we play, that we scored that goal thanks to that player.

“When we analyse the game the coach will say: 'Guys, it's thanks to this player and this, this, this and this, and then we scored the goal'. So I think that is something that, internally, has been rewarded and I think that's really important."