Mikel Arteta has set a new target for his Arsenal side to defy all odds and compete again for the title next season in the Premier League.
Granit Xhaka, who scored a brace against Wolves last weekend, is believed to have played his final match for the Gunners.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Jakub Kiwior were on the scoresheet as Arsenal thrashed Wolves to finish five points behind champions Manchester City.
Arteta said in a post-match conference that: “I think we have some great foundations. But in your sport, you have to prove it again.”
“We have to be back in pre-season and look at each other and I don’t want to see any complacency.”
Arsenal under Mikel Arteta started the season as fourth-place finishers but ended up as runnes up with 84 points in the Premier League.
The Spaniard also vowed to be in the mix as the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool regroup for another campaign.
“We’ve done really well but we’re going to have to be much better,” Mikel Arteta added.
“Obviously, we didn’t expect to finish where we are. It’s a lot but it’s still not enough to win it. So we understand where the level is. And we really want to be the real deal.”
“We don’t have to be happy with what we have – we have to be much, much better next season.”
Speaking on Granit Xhaka, Arteta said: “He did what he needed to do and he has done it the whole season. He has been magnificent for us.”
“I had the opportunity to say thank you. He is a player who had a special story and he has been integral.”
“It is part of my job to make the decisions that are best for the club. His story is really nice.”
Arsenal Under Mikel Arteta
Arsenal claimed their 100th victory under the management of Arteta on Sunday, 17th March 2023 with a 3-0 win away at Fulham.
Goals from Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard earned them a comfortable and deserved victory at Craven Cottage.
Arteta’s first game in charge was against Manchester United, in which he led the gunners to a 2-0 win at the Emirates on New Year’s Day in 2020.
Though he had a rough start at the club which was marred by coronavirus pandemic, he won Arsenal the FA Cup in his debut season.
Arsenal initially struggled in the Premier League under Arteta after finishing eight-place twice in a role in the league.
The 2021/22 season brought some improvement but Arteta’s men could not beat Tottenham in the race for the top four as they finished fifth.
We can not categorically call the season a failure for Arteta and his men. The fact that they finished in the top three shows massive improvement.
The question now is could Mikel Arteta and his men do the same next season and beyond?
