Thursday 20 October 2016 14:02, UK
Aitor Karanka has told his Middlesbrough side to keep believeing in themselves and enjoy the Premier League ride as they prepare to take on Arsenal on Saturday,
Boro were unbeaten in their first three games back in the top flight but have since taken just one point from a possible 15 available.
The next few weeks bring games against Manchester City, Chelsea and champions Leicester, and Karanka has the immediate task of stopping an Arsenal side on a seven match winning run.
The Gunners put six past Champions League opponents Ludogorets on Wednesday night, Mesut Ozil scoring a hat-trick, but Karanka remains unfazed.
"I am looking forward to this game," Karanka said. "The players who were in the Championship wanted to play these games.
"We have been working hard to play these games. Most of the players were here last season. We knew it would be difficult but they have to keep going."
Boro have scored twice in a game just once this season, and that was back on August 21, but Karanka is confident the likes of Alvaro Negredo, Jordan Rhodes and Christian Stuani will start contributing goals more regularly.
"We created chances against Watford [1-0 defeat last time out] in the first 30 minutes but didn't score," Karanka added. "We created chances against Crystal Palace [in a 2-1 defeat last month]. We have players with great quality and they will score.
"It's really important. I think we need to keep believing in ourselves. We've been working for three years. In the past we've been successful so we have to keep going.
"All the players are training well because they know how big this opportunity is. This season we are winning one in nine or 10 but we knew at the beginning of the season it would be really tough.
"We just have to enjoy it, to grow. We have been here just three months."
