Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been criticised in recent weeks for defending his side’s inability to win the Premier League, following a third successive season of finishing second.
The Gunners secured second in the Premier League after beating Newcastle in their final match at the Emirates Stadium for the 2024/25 season.
While the start of the season brought hope that there would be a trophy lift this month, the campaign has been rather tougher than predicted.
A mixture of bad fortune with injuries and officiating, poor performances and the form of the eventual champions Liverpool, all meant it wasn’t to be for Arsenal.
With Mikel Arteta coming under pressure for not adding to the trophy cabinet with the Gunners since his initial FA Cup triumph in 2020, the Arsenal boss has defended his side’s struggles.
Despite giving an explanation for not winning the league, he came in for some criticism, which has since been proven wrong.
- READ MORE: Alex Iwobi claims one Arsenal star would’ve been a Ballon d’Or contender had one thing not happened
Mikel Arteta’s Premier League points tally claim has proven Jamie Carragher wrong
After missing out on the Premier League title to Liverpool, Mikel Arteta has been under increasing pressure to explain where his side missed out.
The Arsenal boss suggested that his side had done enough to win the league in recent seasons, but missed out due to not being better than other teams, as well as a slice of luck.
He told the press: “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 we know how close, we are there, we are providing the numbers that win you titles. We have to be a little bit luckier, but still do better to make sure that nobody has a season better than you.”
Arteta was slammed for those comments, not least by Jamie Carragher, who wrote about it in his column for the Telegraph.
The former Liverpool star said: “Arteta comparing Liverpool’s title-winning performance to Arsenal’s runners-up spot in 2023 and 2024 on the eve of facing the new champions was not clever, either.
“If Liverpool win their next three games, they will finish on 91 points. That’s more than any Arsenal side in history, which is why Arteta’s observation in midweek about Arne Slot winning with fewer points after 35 games than Arsenal won after 38 in the past two years will be mocked.
“For the record, Arsenal had 80 points at the exact same stage a year ago, and 81 the year before, which would have put them in second place right now, too.”
However, following Liverpool’s defeat against Brighton, the side can only manage a maximum of 86 points this season – fewer than the 89 the Gunners managed last season and still missed out on the title.
It proves Arteta was right to mention that a slice of luck is also needed to get his team over the line in those key moments.
However, more is still needed to get Arsenal into a position to be the best team in the league next season, lifting the title above their heads.
Arsenal must look to repeat Arsene Wenger feat next season
With the Premier League season coming to a close, Arsenal will finish second for the third time in a row, coming as a disappointing end to the current journey.
Only one other team has finished second in three consecutive seasons in the league, which was also the Gunners under Arsene Wenger.
The Frenchman bounced back, though, powering Arsenal on towards a Premier League title at the fourth time of asking.
Mikel Arteta will be looking to replicate his old boss next season, but he will likely face an even bigger challenge ahead.
An even stronger Liverpool and a rejuvenated Manchester City could come after the summer transfer window, while other rivals also look to strengthen.
It remains to be seen if that tough task can be met by the manager and his players.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
