Mikel Arteta has not gotten over the disappointment of losing the 2022/23 Premier League title to Manchester City and is hopeful of winning the title this season.
Arteta was on the crossroads of history in the 2023/24 Premier League season.
After initial doubts of his ability to take charge and lead one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, the Spaniard grabbed the bull by the horn and made a big leap in his managerial career joining Arsenal as manager – his first stint as a first team manager. His former boss at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, reportedly told him to accept the offer and take up the job.
Three years into his role as Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta brought the best out of his Arsenal squad and mounted a stiff challenge to his former boss Pep Guardiola on the Premier League title race last season.
Despite falling out late on the title race due to a series of injury blows that grounded his defense, Arteta set a new Premier League record with Arsenal, keeping Arsenal on the Premier League summit for 248 days – the longest period a Premier League club have maintained their grip on the Premier League top without winning the title.
Arsenal last won the Premier League title in 2003/2004. Since then, they have failed to win a single trophy until 2014 when the club ended a nine-years wait for a silverware, winning the FA Cup.
Mikel Arteta was part of the Arsenal squad that lifted the FA Cup and it was such a big moment for the Spaniard.
Eight years later, Mikel Arteta was again on the threshold of making history. This time, not as a player but manager. The Spaniard nearly etched his name into Arsenal’s history as he set out on an epic battle with Premier League dominos Manchester City for the title.
Arteta turned Arsenal into a winning machine, brilliantly taking on his former boss Pep Guardiola on the title race until a late injury to William Saliba proved a chink in the club’s armor.
Arteta finally lost the Premier League title battle to Manchester City. While Arsenal will be hoping to wade into the race again this season, Mikel Arteta has revealed he is yet to get over the Premier League title loss to Manchester City.
The former Manchester City assistant manager who made the face cover of GQ magazine, said he is yet to recover from the disappointment as Arsenal had what it takes to win the league but needed to do more.
”I don’t know if I’ve gotten over it, and probably I don’t want to because I need that to be better.
”There are certain things that you must have to win the title. We had a lot, but it wasn’t enough”, he said.
On Arsenal’s chances of vying for the title this season, Arteta said the club are ready and have what it takes to win the league.
“We have what it takes to win the league this season and are in the competition to win,” he said.
Arsenal have boosted their squad this summer with the acquisition of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber. Former captain, Granit Xhaka, is the biggest departure from the club this summer.
The club will be hoping to stage another formidable challenge for the 2023/24 Premier League title as they open their campaign against Nottingham Forest on 12 August 2023.
Can Arsenal challenge for the Premier League title again?
