Mikel Arteta has admitted that he knew Arsenal would fall short in the Premier League title race before the season even started.
The Gunners, whose exit from the Champions League last week confirmed yet another season without silverware at the Emirates, are primed to finish second in the Premier League for the third straight campaign following Liverpool's title triumph.
The Reds, who host Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, won the Premier League with seven games remaining as Arteta's side continued to drop points while focusing on Champions League knockout ties with PSV, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
The north London club, who sit 15 points behind Liverpool ahead of Sunday's match, will be looking to wrap up Champions League qualification with Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa all within four points of the 67 they have tallied.
Despite heading into 2024-25 season as one of the favourites to win the title, alongside perennial winners Man City, the Gunners have struggled for consistency throughout the campaign due in part to a wealth of injury problems.
Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus are among those to have suffered lengthy spells on the sidelines throughout the season, with Arsenal experiencing a shortage of options in particular up front.
'There are a lot of factors,' Arteta said after being asked about Arsenal's title challenge. 'We knew from the beginning of the season that our squad was super short.
'Being super short we had some players that had a high probability of getting injured, because that's what they had in the last few seasons.
'So we knew that and we cannot do anything about it.
'But we will do everything that we can to improve the team and especially improve the players that we already have.
'That is not something we have just started to talk about now. If we were only having those meetings now we would be doing it very late.
'Whatever the market offers to give us a better chance to win for sure we will try to do it.
'Over the season there are many things you need to go your way.
'In the clinical moments, does the ball hit the post and come out, or go in? That's the fine margins.
'What we have to try to do is to amplify the margins. The bigger the margins are, even if those things happen, then it will be very difficult for the opposition.
'We have to do it our way. We have to be authentic with ourselves and what we believe, what we can do and what we've been doing. That's it.'
Arsenal were hoping to end the season with a historic Champions League honour, but the north London club were unable to surpass PSG at the semi-final stage.
The upcoming summer transfer window is likely to be an extremely important one for Arsenal and Arteta, with Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi already understood to have agreed a deal to sign ahead of the new campaign.
Arsenal are also in the market for a new striker, with Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko among those linked with a move to the Emirates.
Nikadlnuy
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saka said dat this z the year fans have been waiting๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค
Mencdikuyz
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I think an Inquest should be conducted. Who has the responsibility of signing players in Arsenal???
Keplnrsuz
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sack him if not I will not watch this useless coach again
Yaocdeimps
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Arteta useless manager
cimdlrtyz
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if arsenal doesn't win any trophy next season, Arteta should go
Nikanor8
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Arsenal supporters are tough guys and can stomach anything. Imagine,the board knew that the team is 'super short'but decided to still not buy players during the January window to fill gaps left out by injured players. The fact is that the owners are very ๐ without trophies.
Th owners of arsenal only care about profit but we fans want a trophy
Tewcdkmnop
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Keep believing and dreaming without actions. it shall remain a dream forever until you get a boot on your back.
Allianceofficial
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Arteta needs to get real with the fans and stop lying about winning trophies. If you knew what you're saying you knew before the season started, then why didn't you do what was right instead of leading and living a lie? Arsenal needs real ballers, goal scorers, ball winners and playmaker, and players like Odegaard fits none of these criteria.
if you followed the transfer market in the summy, you'll realize, there was no money disbursed for arteta, that's why he sold players to get what he needed and he went for sesko but it didn't work out, he went for two other options before setting for sterling. he used the resources available to him. These managers won't come out to tell you the financial situation they face or how many requests have been turned down. They make the best of what they have
jezabeknsz
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buto pak hang
Jizablprsy
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Arteta needs to get real with the fans and stop lying about winning trophies. If you knew what you're saying you knew before the season started, then why didn't you do what was right instead of leading and living a lie? Arsenal needs real ballers, goal scorers, ball winners and playmaker, and players like Odegaard fits none of these criteria.
Jipaeklmp
1
Netflix coach always next season.
taeabdouyz
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Arsenal supporters are tough guys and can stomach anything. Imagine,the board knew that the team is 'super short'but decided to still not buy players during the January window to fill gaps left out by injured players. The fact is that the owners are very ๐ without trophies.
get out
Temaklnpt
1
Arsenal supporters are tough guys and can stomach anything. Imagine,the board knew that the team is 'super short'but decided to still not buy players during the January window to fill gaps left out by injured players. The fact is that the owners are very ๐ without trophies.
resabekpst
1
I honestly would say that he is telling an honest assessment of the way the season has been.
lokaeoptuz
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How come he didn't strengthen the team if he knew so? so, is him deliberately doing this to make arsenal fans to lost interest in supporting their team. That's shameless of him to say!
damamopst
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You knew the team would fall short and your knew some players have high risk of injury yet you refused to strengthen. You can't keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome. With the depth of Man City's squad, they still strengthen during the winter, Aston Villa sold an attacker and added 2 during the winter, you are the only manager that is short yet claim there's no one available that will strengthen the team. Pathetic!
Sodabeilmu
1
All this useless excuses Is the problem Arteta will get fired for one day What is I know the squad is short Useless coach
RallinHayles
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arteta reminds me of Simone as coach there players and fans than winning trophy's
vudcloruz
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how Sure are you they are finishing 2nd... remember it's Liverpool later today and Newcastle next weekend...
jaffalovers13
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wow took him 6 years to realise that arsenal is a chokers team
suaaekpu
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Arteta will be fired if he continues to give a damned excuses.
zeydeklmtu
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poor Asernal