Mikel Arteta has broken his silence after Liverpool secured the Premier League title, and sent a defiant message to his Arsenal players as they go for Champions League glory.
The Reds are celebrating after wrapping up their 20th league crown on Sunday, taking them level with rival Manchester United and confirming their status as England’s most successful club. It caps off what has been a sensational first season in charge at Anfield for Arne Slot, who took over from Jurgen Klopp less than 12 months ago.
It does of course mean that Arsenal will have to wait at least another year to end its wait for a first league title since 2004. The Gunners look set to finish runners-up again this season, having finished second to Manchester City in each of the last two campaigns.
Speaking ahead of the first leg of his side’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, Arteta didn’t address Liverpool’s title triumph directly, although he did touch upon some of the difficulties his side has faced, which have played a part in them being unable to catch the Reds.
“Especially with the circumstances that we had this season and how we have overcome a lot of issues and challenges, and the fact that the team is here as one of the four best teams in Europe,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. “It says about the mindset and spirit, and how much we really want it.
“We are making history, it’s a beautiful story right now, but we want much more.”
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Arteta will be hoping his side can do what Liverpool couldn’t by beating PSG and booking its place in the final. The Arsenal boss is drawing upon the Reds’ defeat to the French champion, as well as Aston Villa’s efforts in the quarter-finals, as he tries to plot a path to a first-ever Champions League title for the Gunners.
“Obviously you learn a lot from every game,” Arteta added. “It’s different, I think the context and results from both games are very, very different, the same with Liverpool. I take a lot of things from the game we played here, and we understand how strong they are as a team with the individuals that they have.
“But we have the same, so when you get to this stage, the margins and the difference between the two teams is not big, and it’s really the mindset and the attitude and how we’re going to play the game tomorrow.”
