Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has set a staggering Premier League points target to end the Gunners England Championships title deadlock.
In the past two seasons, Arsenal have emerged as the next best Premier League side after serial winners Manchester City. Twice, the Gunners have been beaten to the title in the run-in after a promising start.
In the 2022-23 campaign, the London-based outfit were toppled in the race after a dramatic turn of results that saw them dropped points against Nottingham Forests, including Bournemouth and West Ham United. The unexpected relapse saw a roaring Manchester City side steamroller to a successive third Premier League triumph.
In the 2023-24 season, it was a similar scenario. The high-flying Mikel Arteta-led side suffered a tumultuous setback in the run-in again when they suffered a shock 2-0 loss to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at the Emirates.
The loss marked the turning point in the title race as it handed Manchester City an advantage. City would go ahead to win all their remaining Premier League games and clinch their fourth successive Premier League title by a 2-point gap.
With the 2024-25 fast approaching, Arsenal are expected to challenge for the Premier League title again. This time, Mikel Arteta is determined to end the deadlock.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s pre-season friendly match with Manchester United at the SoFi stadium, Arteta set a tongue-in-the-cheek target to win the English top-flight next season. According to him, he is ready to lead the team to secure 114 points to win the Premier League title.
“[It will take] 114 points,” Arteta said during a press conference before Arsenal’s pre-season friendly with Manchester United. “If we do that, we will win the league, for sure! This is the objective and from there, let’s see what we can get.
“But today that has to be the target – win every single game and earn the right to win it and have the biggest probability on the opponent to win the game. When we have difficulties, we still need to be better than the opponent. So, that’s the objective for the team.”
Can Arsenal secure 114 Premier League points next season?
114 points means Arsenal must win all 38 Premier League games. In the history of the English top flight, no team has won all the league matches to be a champion. So, Mikel Arteta’s target is a near impossibility.
However, the Gunners cannot be ruled out in the race for the 2024-25 Premier League title after a strong showing in the last two seasons. With Liverpool getting started with a new manager, Arne Slot, after Jurgen Klopp’s exit, the Reds are not likely to pose a strong challenge to Manchester City in the title race.
Manchester United are also struggling to rebuild after a disastrous run with Erik ten Hag last season. So, Arsenal are expected to lead the charge of teams who are likely to challenge Manchester City for the coveted English silverware.
Arsenal readiness for 2024-25 Premier League season
It has been over 20 years since the team last won the Premier League title. The Gunners aced the English top-flight title in the 2003-04 season under former legendary manager, Arsene Wenger and Arteta is hoping to end the deadlock by leading the team to an all-conquering run next season.
While this is more wishful thinking than a possibility, the team has shown their readiness for the challenge ahead with a promising start to their pre-season friendlies.
They drew Bournemouth 1-1 in the opening USA pre-season tour before edging out the Cherries on penalties. Their second match against arch-domestic rivals Manchester United ended on a winning note as well. Goals from Brazilian duo, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, canceled out Rasmus Hojlund’s early strike to hand the Gunners a deserved 2-1 victory.
They will take on Liverpool in their next match on Thursday, August 1, Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, August 7, and Lyon on Sunday, August 11 before the Premier League kickoff against Wolves on August 17.
