Mikel Arteta has issued his Arsenal first-team squad a ‘very clear’ five-word message on what it will take for the Gunners to win their first Premier League title since 2004.
It was once a fight between Arsenal and Manchester United to be crowned as the best team in England. Yet the north London giants now face a fight with the other Manchester club for Premier League supremacy. But Man City have had Arsenal’s number in the past two terms.
Arsene Wenger led Arsenal to three Premier League titles through the first 12 editions after the division split from the EFL. But since the Invincibles secured the 2003/04 title unbeaten, Arsenal have had to watch Chelsea and also Manchester City become persistent contenders.
Mikel Arteta demands ‘more from everybody’ for Arsenal to win the Premier League
But Arteta has, finally, taken Arsenal firmly back into the title fight over the past two Premier League seasons. The Gunners sprung a surprise by pushing Man City for the 2022/23 crown after failing to qualify for the Champions League in the previous term and have stayed there.
Arsenal could have won the title in either of the past two seasons, as well. But after holding an eight-point lead over Manchester City as late as April, the Gunners’ collapse saw the title go to Etihad Stadium with fixtures to spare. Arsenal also missed out by two points last term.
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So, having failed to see out back-to-back Premier League title-winning positions, Arteta has a ‘very clear’ message for the Arsenal first-team squad on what it will take to lift the title in 2024/25. Simply, the Spaniard wants more from each player, coach and fan in north London.
“I think the message is very clear – ‘We need more from everybody’,” Arteta said in his press conference before Arsenal’s pre-season friendly against Manchester United in Los Angeles.
Adding on what Arsenal needing more actually means, Arteta said: “That means personally I have to raise my standards and I need to bring something that I haven’t brought yet.
“Individually and collectively, we have to do the same. And for our people, it is the same. The more they help us, the better the chance will be to win the Premier League.
“That’s what we want. So, we need to work every day with that excitement and understanding the difficulty of it. When difficult times come, we need to be together and go through them efficiently.”
Arsenal were the best Premier League side in 2024
Arsenal have improved term-on-term in recent seasons after giving Arteta the time to build his project. The Emirates Stadium natives will now hope to make the final step and become Premier League champions again in 24/25 after taking the fight to the final day last season.
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Arteta will know that Arsenal cost themselves the Premier League title by having to rely on favours after losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa in April. It was the Gunners’ only defeat since the turn of the year in the top-flight. But it meant Manchester City took control of the race.
The only other points Arsenal dropped in 2024 came with a 0-0 draw at Manchester City, as well. Other than those two results, Arteta’s side sealed 16 wins from 18 games for 49 points in 2024. Just Man City earned more points after the turn of the year with 51 from 19 games.
Arsenal also scored a Premier League-high 54 goals and allowed a league-low nine in 2024 en route to ending the season with the second-best attack (91) to Man City (96) and set the best defensive record (29). Arteta will hope their form in 2024 is just the start for next term.
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