Arteta hails Arsenal's maturity and 'incredible dressing room' ahead of North London derby

Mikel Arteta is making memories at Arsenal he says he will never forget as he salutes the Gunners' "incredible dressing room" ahead of the North London derby against Tottenham.

After a blistering start to the season, in which they won 14 of their first 17 games, Arteta's side can move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League with a victory over their bitter rivals on Sunday .

Arteta had a tough start to life at Emirates Stadium, but the pendulum has certainly swung in his favor this term, and he's enjoying himself now.

"It's just an amazing dressing room. It's just a joy to work with [the players] every day," said Arteta, who won the Premier League's Coach of the Month for December award. League.

"Some of the things we've done together, I'll probably never be able to do with another team or with another group.

"Especially game days and the things we do together, that will stick in my head for the rest of my life."

The maturity of this young Arsenal team particularly impressed Arteta, who noted how his relationship with the players has changed this season.

"[The players] are definitely more mature," he said. "I think the requirements have also changed and my role and what they expect of me, in my opinion, is also different.

"And that's why we always have to evolve and try to be ahead of what's to come, to give the players and the rest of the staff what's going to make everything click to be more efficient and win more matches."

In the field, this translated not only into better results, but also into better performance.

Arteta said of the changes at Arsenal: "We are winning more games, which is the most important thing and the thing that changes everything, and I think we are playing better.

"We deserve to win in the games we've won, and that's probably the most relevant thing."