Mikel Arteta issues four-word response to claims that Manchester United and Tottenham have had better seasons than Arsenal

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Arsenal will end the 2024/25 season without silverware.

The Gunners missed out on the Premier League title to Liverpool, while they were knocked out of the FA Cup and the League Cup by Manchester United and Newcastle, respectively.

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain ended Arsenal’s Champions League campaign on Wednesday night, defeating the North Londoners 3-1 on aggregate over two legs.

Mikel Arteta’s side have now gone five seasons without winning a trophy, and the pressure is starting to grow on him to deliver this tangible success to N5.

• READ MORE: Arsene Wenger completely disagrees with what Mikel Arteta said after PSG beat Arsenal in the Champions League

Mikel Arteta responds to claims about Manchester United and Tottenham

Arsenal should at least secure a place in the top five of the Premier League, while second is still very much on the cards.

Meanwhile, theoretical rivals Manchester United and Tottenham are currently slumped in 15th and 16th respectively.

However, both of these teams have booked a place in the Europa League final, which will take place in Bilbao later this month.

The winner of the European showdown will be rewarded with a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Arsene Wenger believes winning the second-rate competition shouldn’t result in a place in the prestigious European tournament, but Arteta was much more coy on this.

Asked about it in his press conference on Friday morning, and about suggestions that the Europa League winner may enjoy a more successful season than Arsenal, Arteta simply said: “I don’t judge that.”

Elaborating, he added: “There are two words, success and failure, they are not part of my vocabulary.”

Whether Arsenal or the eventual Europa League champion had a better season ultimately depends on the lens in which an individual views football.

Preferring constant misery throughout the season, but a euphoric moment to end it, or more sustained enjoyment throughout a campaign without the glorious finale, is an individual preference.

What Mikel Arteta said about Arsenal winning trophies

By Arsenal’s standards, a five-year spell without silverware is something of a drought.

However, Arteta believes his team are extremely close to attaining major honours.

Asked about this in his press conference, the divisive head coach responded: “We are there, because with the amount of points that we have generated in the last few seasons, we could have two Premier Leagues.

“So you know how close we are, we are there, we are providing the numbers that win you titles. We have to be a little bit luckier or still do better, is that nobody has that season better than you.

“But again, what we did in the Champions League, with those numbers, you have a big probability of winning it. That’s why a lot of people were thinking that we could go all the way.”