Arteta unhappy at Sociedad

Mikel Arteta has expressed his frustration at being dropped by Real Sociedad.

The midfielder joined the Basque club in the summer from Rangers, and was mooted as the man to fill the boots of the departed Xabi Alonso.

However, the former Paris Saint Germain star has failed to establish himself in La Liga as Sociedad have made a slow start to the season.

Arteta admits things have not gone as planned since his summer move, and even hinted he could move on if he does not regain his place.

"On arriving at Real Sociedad I had different expectations," he stated.

"I did not expect it (not to be playing), but neither did I expect I would be struggling so much at the start.

"Right now, the boss is trusting other players to make the team more efficient.

"Until now I have not had the opportunity to play really, and I don't know if I will be going or not.

"But you have to respect the decisions of the coach because when I was playing the other players respected me, now I have to respect the ones that are playing.

"When the boss gives me the opportunity to play, I will try to do the best possible."

Arteta is unhappy with life on the bench, but conceded his main concern was that Sociedad improved their form as a team.

The club currently sit fourth bottom of La Primera having won just one of their opening six league games.

"We hope this is just a temporary situation and we can start to enjoy ourselves on the pitch," he continued.

"I have never been on a bench. You see the game in a different way and you get very nervous.

"You see that the team needs to win, but you are impotent from the other side of the line."