Mikel Arteta’s resolve remains unshaken despite the difficult season that Arsenal have endured, marked by a painful exit from the Champions League and a title challenge that faded away. After their elimination from Europe’s premier competition and their inability to challenge for the Premier League crown, Arteta remains focused on the future, determined to lead his team to greater heights.
“I don’t have time to dwell on it,” Arteta said when reflecting on the emotional toll of recent events. His drive to achieve success is as strong as ever, fueled by the ambition to raise the standards at Arsenal. “I have so much to achieve and do, and we need to improve. That is what drives me every day,” he added. The manager acknowledged the pain of falling short but insisted that high expectations must be the standard for everyone at the club, especially him. He emphasized the importance of demanding more from himself and his team, as the pursuit of excellence remains the primary focus.
Arteta’s comments come after a season in which Arsenal’s title challenge slipped away for the third consecutive year. The manager candidly admitted that the team had taken “a step backwards” in the league compared to previous seasons. Despite an impressive start, Arsenal struggled to maintain their form, and with only three games remaining, they face the risk of failing to secure a top-four finish. A potential drop to 69 points, fewer than they managed in 2022, would mark a disappointing end to their campaign.
“If it doesn’t hurt, then it means you don’t love winning as much as I do,” Arteta said, acknowledging the disappointment but also providing context for the team’s struggles. Injuries, suspensions, and a demanding schedule have made consistency a challenge, especially when playing with reduced numbers. The team dropped numerous points from winning positions, an area Arteta is determined to address.
In addition to the team’s form, the lack of a clinical striker has been a glaring issue this season. With Gabriel Jesus sidelined for much of the year, Arsenal have struggled in front of goal, with Kai Havertz being their top scorer in the Premier League despite his absence since January. Arteta remains frustrated by the lack of attacking reinforcements in January, highlighting the need for a top-class striker this summer. Several targets have been identified, including Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP and Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, who Arteta regrets not signing last summer.
Arsenal’s attacking output has also been insufficient, with the team’s goals tally of 64 far below their 90+ goals from the previous season. Set-pieces, once a key source of goals, dried up after the turn of the year, adding to the team’s challenges. Arteta acknowledged the need for a creative spark to ease the burden on underperforming players like Martin Ødegaard and hinted that they would be looking to bring in another attacking midfielder, with Nico Williams and Eberechi Eze among the players linked.
As for the future, Arteta is confident that his squad has the potential to bounce back stronger. “We are a super-strong team with everybody fit and available,” he said. The manager is optimistic about the progress the team has made, pointing to their Champions League semi-final appearance as a significant achievement that had eluded the club for two decades. He believes that the lessons learned from their setbacks this season will lay the foundation for future success.
Arteta’s goal remains clear: to turn the pain of near-misses into motivation for the team to achieve their dreams. As he pointed out, Arsenal’s close calls in the league have parallels to the period under Arsène Wenger, when the team finished runners-up in three consecutive seasons before going on to win the Double and the Invincibles era. Arteta is hoping that his players will use the heartbreak to fuel their ambition for next season, showing the fight necessary to overcome adversity and finally claim the titles they crave.
