The regret and pain from the 2023/24 season remains fresh for Arsenal but Mikel Arteta has urged his players to step up their mentality next season as the Gunners remain on an upward trajectory.
For the second season in succession, Arsenal finished runners-up in the Premier League table, with Manchester City retaining their title and doing it for the fourth time consecutively.
And while Arteta was quick to congratulate City, he urged the Arsenal players to use their disappointment as motivation to bounce back and try and make it third time lucky in 12 months’ time.
Arteta urges Arsenal players to step up once again
Speaking after claimed a 2-1 win against Everton on the final day of the season, Arteta said: “Congratulations to Manchester City for winning the Premier League,” he said post-match. “We tried, we had a record season in many stats, but normally those records have to produce big titles, and we haven’t won it. That’s the regret today because we really wanted to deliver something special to our people.
“When you look at it, the atmosphere they created, how they are behind the team and the players, it’s unbelievable. It’s a little bit of a sad day but looking at it with perspective, we have to understand what we are doing. Hopefully we can still be better.
“Now we have to stop and reflect on why these things are happening and all the decisions that we made and the progress that we are making in the club, and not only the men’s team, which is really encouraging.
“Now we need to show our teeth – you really want to win it, now we have to make another step forward, be very aggressive, very determined and find ways to be better than our opponents.
Arteta also thanked the club’s supporters for their immense support all the way, saying they have really helped the players as an ‘extra man’.
“They’ve been unbelievable, they are so inspiring,” he added. “I think they’ve taken this group of players and transformed them into a different level, because they feel confident, they feel respected, they feel loved.
“That’s a real power to have, so home and away, I think they’ve been incredible and today was just a joy to stand there in front of our people, living this team that for many years, we haven’t had the chance to live.”
Arsenal will now be left looking at the 2023/24 campaign yet again as one of disappointment.
