Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted his side's progression has not been a linear one.
Arteta has endured a rollercoaster 22 months since succeeding Unai Emery in the Gunners' managerial hot-seat.
The former Manchester City assistant coach guided his side to a record 14th FA Cup trophy but struggled in the Premier League as the north London outfit finished eighth in back-to-back campaigns.
Now, his team have continued to show inconsistent tendencies this term, losing all of their first three league fixtures before winning the next three as they currently sit 10th in the league table.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal's trip to Brighton on Saturday, Arteta has admitted that sometimes you have to go backwards in order to progress.
“Momentum is down to confidence, is down to believing in what you do and really feeling it and trying to embrace it and move on every week, adding something, making sure that the steps are forwards", Arteta told Sky Sports.
“In any project, that’s impossible to happen every single week. Some days you have to go a little bit backwards to go forwards and you have to realise that and don’t lose perspective.”
The Spaniard also reflected on the Gunners' summer transfer dealings, one which he feels was an extremely significant one in terms of long-term squad planning.
“The changes we made this summer was probably the most significant summer we’ve had since I’ve been here.
“Now you start to get a sense that we’re all on the same page. With any project, you need the right foundations and now we have clarity in what we want to do."
The Gunners will be hoping to continue their current winning streak against the Seagulls, having beaten them home and away last season.
