Mikel Arteta acknowledges aim to address Arsenal 'behaviour'

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes his players are in a "good emotional state" following the latest Football Association charge to hit the club - but admits he will hold talks with his squad to bring about a change in "behaviour".

The Gunners were charged for allegedly failing to control their players as they crowded referee David Coote having not been awarded a penalty for handball in the first half of their FA Cup win over Oxford.

That followed on from a similar incident in a victory at Leeds in October, with Arteta's own touchline behaviour widely criticised in recent weeks.

The Spaniard takes his side to face north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday with Arsenal making the short trip sitting top of the Premier League.

Asked if the latest incident showed his players are feeling the pressure of leading the way in the league, Arteta replied: "I think the players are in a good emotional state.

"They are excited, they are enjoying playing together and obviously we are in a good position. We have to now improve a lot of things and maintain a lot of the good things that have taken us this far."

He refused to be drawn on the latest charge or whether it came as a surprise, but did respond when asked if he would talk to his players about it, saying: "Anything that we can do to improve, we will always have conversations with our players and staff to see what we can do better (and if) we have to change any behaviour."

Arteta admitted the club are "trying to improve" the squad in the January window but would not speak about Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk.

It is understood that a deal for the 22-year-old is now close, with Arteta adding: "You know we cannot talk about any other players.

"There are some interests in what we'd like