Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted that he is “excited” ahead of the summer as he aims to dethrone Liverpool as Premier League champions next season.
The Gunners had been tipped by many observers as the favorites to take the top flight from Manchester City heading into the current campaign. However, Arne Slot instead led his Reds side to a historic 20th league championship and a first in front of supporters at Anfield in 35 years after succeeding Jurgen Klopp in the hotseat.
Having challenged City for the English crown in the previous two seasons, Arsenal’s title charge never materialized this term and Arteta’s side sits 15 points adrift of the summit. Ahead of a trip to face newly-crowned champions Liverpool on Merseyside this weekend, the Gunners boss has issued a defiant statement.
It has been a week to forget for the North London outfit, as a 2-0 second leg defeat against PSG ended their run in the Champions League at the semi-final stage. However, Arteta remains resolute in his belief that the upcoming summer can prove to be a positive period for his side – as he insisted he is “excited” for the future.
The Spanish coach said: “Very much, yeah. Already with the players that we have, and having everybody fit and available, we are a super strong team.
(Image: Lars Baron – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
“What we’ve done in the Champions League semi-final, we haven’t done in 20 years at this football club, with the actual players that we have right now. So, yeah, very, very positive.”
Addressing whether he will target a fresh attacking reinforcement in the coming months, he issued a barbed response, saying: “I have to make it more clear. In January it was clear or not? I told you, because you were in the room I think many times, I made a very clear statement, and the statement continues the same.
(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Essentially, Arteta remained coy on his plans for the next transfer window but he did admit that a lack of firepower this season has proven costly as his side’s title charge failed to ignite. He continued: “I want the best team, the best players. If we have three goalscorers over 25, bring them in, we’re going to be a much better team, yes.
“Yeah, I would look more broadly. I think if you score over 90 goals, you have a high, high probability of winning the Premier League.
“It doesn’t guarantee you, but you have a high probability if the defensive record is very good as well, and very dependable as well, against who and in which moment this striker, this winger in this case, has scored the goals and how many points he is contributing to those goals as well.”
Earmarking Liverpool as the team to beat next season, he added: “They will hold that trophy and somebody has to come and take it out of their hands, and I’m sure that we’re going to have a lot of contenders and very well-prepared contenders to raise their level again and make it very difficult.”
