The story of the recently finished Premier League season was Arsenal, not Manchester City. After all, it’s Pep Guardiola’s fault. He accustomed the fans of the league to success and title-winning, so another lifted trophy is nothing new. But the Gunners were a young, not fully developed team with a ’thin’ bench, who were league leaders almost until the end. Nobody expected them to challenge City and to challenge them that long. It was a job for Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea, but they all failed miserably. And the creator of such a competitive team was Mikel Arteta, a former Arsenal player who knows the club inside out. In a big interview for Marca, the former Barcelona player talked about the reasons for losing the title race, the strength of the Premier League and the possibility of winning it in 2024.Arteta on Declan Rice deal: “Sorry but I can’t speak about players who’re not at the club. I prefer not to comment”. ⚪️🔴 #AFC“Havertz? He’s talented, versatile player and only 24. Talent has price. He has already shown a lot, including a UCL”. pic.twitter.com/iU5CF9fHJi— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 25, 2023 The inevitable question for all Arsenal players this June was the reaction to losing the title battle in the last few rounds, which also implies to Arteta. The Spaniard analyzed the reasons for failing to lift the trophy after 19 years.“To this day, it still hurts me deeply not having won the Premier after spending 10 months fighting with City. But that’s the sport. That said, what has been achieved with such a young team Arsenal had the youngest squad in the Premier is worthwhile. That is clear to me too. Those three draws in a row that we had penalized us, and all the misfortunes that happened two comebacks going two up. There were three or four injuries to important players and from there, everything got complicated. When we had the full team, we were consistent. As soon as problems came, it didn’t reach us. And then our rival was the best team in the world; the best squad in the world; the best coach in the world… We had no choice but to accept it and shake hands with the champion. Pep is the best at everything. Management; convince the group of your idea; drag everyone; bring out the best in them; decision making before and during the match; that the message does not expire… Pep is a genius“ said Arteta.’This season will bother me for the rest of my life’Arsenal’s coach admitted imagining himself winning the Premier League during the season…“In many moments. The team gave me arguments and we had a connection with the people. It was believed in it. But when we started to have injuries, I felt that it was going to cost us. The level of demand could not be maintained. If you want to win the Premier against City, you have to get to April-May with all the players available and at their best. And we, due to injuries, did not get to that“ explained the Gunners boss. Iraola joins Bournemouth as the Spanish coaching colony in EPL grows day by dayBut there is no doubt in Arteta’s mind that winning the Premier League next season is possible.“If not, I would not be sitting here. That is our ambition. We know the difficulty: it is the best league in the world and next season is going to be the most difficult league in the history of the Premier. Because? Last year it already was. I’ve been here for 22 years and I’ve never seen a competitive level like that. So much quality, so much organization, so many resources, such good coaches… and now Pochettino and Iraola have arrived. The level is that and to win the Premier you must be the best. That is why it has to be strengthened“ said former Barca player.It’s not a spending spree but insanity! Partey offered $200 million by a Saudi clubThe arrival of Arteta marked the revival of Arsenal, who wandered in ’darkness’ after Arsene Wenger left the club following a 22 years spell. The Spaniard wandered a bit himself in his first year, and then everything settled.“This started three years ago. I was Pep’s assistant at City, we played against Arsenal and I saw that the soul of the club had been lost. It was not enjoyed, it was not felt. I knew that there was the option of, shortly after, being on the other bench and I knew that this club is so big that you had to connect the team with the fans. It has been hard to do and undo… and now I feel happy. We have a clear identity, there is union and we are full of energy. That’s the biggest. From top to bottom, they all push in the same direction. We give the fan something to dream about and be proud of. And now, you have to earn more“ explained Arteta.##NAJAVA_MECA_7339425##His work has been appreciated around Europe, and even PSG tried to lure him away from Emirates this season, but Arteta was tight-lipped.“I can only say that I am happy at Arsenal. I feel loved, valued by our owners, Stan and Josh Kroenke, and I have a lot to do here at this club. I am happy and tremendously grateful to be at Arsenal“.
