A devastated Mikel Arteta was full of hurt after Arsenal’s loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. That win not only saw the Gunners’ poor form continue but also handed Manchester City their fifth Premier League win in six seasons.
It was a season where Arsenal were at the top of the table for 247 days and were favourites to win it at some point. However, a late season collapse saw it all come to an end, with Pep Guardiola’s side retaining their crown.
Speaking after the defeat to Nottingham Forest, Arteta admitted this season was a difficult one to take but also showed his sportsmanship by admitting Manchester City deserved to win the Premier League.
Man City deserved Premier League win – Arteta
Speaking on Arsenal’s title charge coming to an end, Arteta said: “It’s a really sad day and there are a lot of difficult emotions. Obviously because we lost the game and we lost the championship after 10 and a half months fighting for it. I know that we have built an illusion, enthusiasm and belief that we could go all the way and win it, and we fell short.”
“So congratulations to Manchester City, they’re the champions and they deserve to be the champions. They’ve done it for 38 games and we haven’t been able to do that. That’s it, and from my side I apologise because we have generated belief that we could do it, and at the end the team wasn’t able to do it, and that is my responsibility.”
Arteta says Arsenal will use the determination from this season to do even better next term.
For sure, we will find a way to do that, he continued.
“Today is just sadness, you see a lot of people who have put so much work, so much belief and so many hours and I am sad for them because I wanted to find a way. We wanted to squeeze everything that we had out of that group and find alternatives and ways to reach certain levels, and when we don’t we try in other ways. We fell short and it is my job and my responsibility and I have to analyse that and think.”
Arsenal goalkeeper also shared his disappointment but says the Gunners also have positives to take from the campaign.
“Today is a disappointing afternoon for us, he said, “but Champions League football was originally the first goal at the start of the season. We’ve managed that for the first time in six or seven years.
“We pushed this Man City team all the way, who’ve won five times in six years. The disappointment is not going to come from not winning the league, it’s going to come from how it’s ended up playing out.
“We will be really proud of ourselves, but we do have to look in the mirror and we have to be the first ones to own up to our mistakes and where we went wrong, because that’s how we learn and get better.”
