Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has issued an early confident claim on the Premier League title race ahead of the 2023/24 season having taken the Gunners to second in 22/23.
The Spaniard oversaw the Emirates Stadium natives’ first Premier League title push since the 15/16 campaign last term. But Arsenal fell short of winning a first title since Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles in 03/04. They spent 248 days in the top spot only to lose out to Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side secured the title with three games to spare after overhauling an eight-point deficit faced in mid-January. The Citizens won 11 straight games to edge Arsenal. The Gunners, on the other hand, fell short after winning two over eight as the race wound down.
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Arsenal have strengthened since missing out on the title
Arsenal have since moved to strengthen Arteta’s team with transfers for Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice. The Gunners spent £62.5m rising to £67.5m for the German, £34m rising to £38.5m for the Dutchman and £100m rising to £105m for the England international.
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Havertz gives Arsenal extra attacking depth with the former Chelsea man a versatile threat in the final third. While Timber brought defensive versatility as the former Ajax ace can play as a centre-back and right-back. Rice, meanwhile, left West Ham as their captain and talisman.
Arteta issues a confident claim on the Premier League in 23/24
Yet despite Arsenal sealing transfers worth more than £200m, Arteta expects the Gunners to face an even tougher test to win the Premier League title in 23/24. The Spaniard suspects an improved effort from the north Londoners’ rivals. So, he knows his players must all be better.
“Harder, for sure, because the level is going to go up and the teams are getting better and the league is getting stronger,” Arteta said, via quotes by football.london.
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“So, it’s only going to get harder. We have to be better and play better and do things better than we did last year and that’s what we’re working on at the moment.”
Arsenal pushed Manchester City closest for the Premier League title in 22/23 as their rivals all fell considerably short. Manchester United came home in third but trailed the Citizens by 14 points. While Liverpool failed to even finish in the top four after 19 wins from 38 games.
Chelsea, too, endured a disastrous season and would only finish in 12th place. But the Blues will expect a vastly improved effort after hiring Mauricio Pochettino as their manager. It will be some shock should Chelsea produce an equally dire campaign in back-to-back seasons.