Arsenal go to Elland Road on Saturday after a defeat at home to Manchester United last Sunday. The loss leaves the Gunners four points clear of second-place Manchester City at the top of the table.
The trip tomorrow, however, occurs after Arsenal's impressive victory at Inter Milan in the Champions League, and Arteta said: "Well, it's just understanding where you are, certainly when you lose a game, you have a lot of feelings, because especially this group of players are so competitive.
"They seek for excellence, and when you don't reach it you ask yourself questions, and we did that, but I think my role there as well is to bring optimism and reality of where we are, and our club has a long, long history, and to find a moment when in February we are in the position that we are is very difficult to find.
"So guys, we are doing so many things so well, and let's focus mainly on that, and for sure we want to improve, we want to be better in every area, but with that sense as well of self-confidence and conviction that we are on the right path."
Asked if the United defeat shook his confidence, Arteta was adamant.
"No, in this moment no, normally I'm the opposite, and when we are doing so well I'm there with a stick to say this is not good enough, this is not good enough, the other day no, because I know how much they wanted the amount of games and the demands that we put on those players every day, and those moments they need to understand and feel that we are right behind them."
Havertz ready for Leeds
Arteta says Kai Havertz could start at Leeds. The German attacker started his first game in over a year at Inter, with him scoring one and creating another in the 3-1 win.
Arteta stated: "Yeah, he's ready, obviously he started the day, obviously it's been a long period and now we need to manage that load and the games that we're going to select for him to start, but there was no reaction to that, I think it was super positive, you could see straight away the impact that he can have in the team, so yeah, he's ready."
Going further, Arteta admits he was pleased to see the instant connection between Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres in Milan.
"The other night we saw a lot of positive things, obviously it will depend on the opponent and how they behave, what formation they use, but there are options that are obviously really, really positive to the team, whether he plays as a line, as an attacking midfielder, and to other combinations.
"Whether it's at the start or throughout the game, I think it's something very good, and it can impact the game in a really powerful way."
Pep relationship
With Manchester City, his team's closest rival, Arteta says he still speaks with their manager, Pep Guardiola, despite the rivalry. Indeed, Arteta insists he'd find it unusual if their friendship went south.
He said, "For me, the surprising thing would be not to, and I think it would be a really bad example for sport. I think in sport you have to learn, and probably the biggest lesson that sport has given us is the relationship.
"For example, (the relationship) that Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer had, and I'm not at that level at all, but one of the best in history, or the two best, one of the sportsmen, the relationship they have between them when they have to play a final, one against one, against each other. So how the hell am I not going to have a great relationship with someone that I admire, I work with, and he's a colleague?"
Dowman deal
Before this morning's media conference, it was announced that 16-year-old Max Dowman had signed a pre-contract committing him to penning a first pro deal with Arsenal when he turns 17 on New Year's Eve.
Arteta gave Dowman his Premier League debut this season at 15 years of age and said of the news: "Yeah, it's a proud moment to see him signing that deal in front of his family and his loved ones.
"It would be great to everybody that has been involved in that journey with him to bring him all the way to the first team, and especially in the manner that they've done it. And now we have an amazing talent that day by day I think we need to shape because there's so much there."
On comparisons with other young players he's worked with, Arteta added: "He's certainly one of the best. I mean, what he's done with us at the age of 15, me personally, I haven't seen it before. Only with a guy that used to play in Barcelona, but maybe not even that.
"But yeah, he certainly has, not only that, he has a certain charisma as well and personality that he doesn't get overwhelmed, whether it's by the situation or the stadium or the opposition, and that's a huge quality to have."
Asked about the final days of the winter market, Arteta wasn't shutting the door on any late arrivals.
He added: "We have our ambitions, but we have our own restrictions, and we need to know that we have to do what we can do, and what we believe is the right thing to do."