Mikel Arteta on going to the next level: "You have to be more determined, you have to be more ambitious, you have to have a lot of courage and push every limit. That's the next step. If we do what we have to do, we're going to be closer and at the end we'll win it."
Monday 20 May 2024 14:52, UK
Mikel Arteta has vowed Arsenal will come back stronger and win the Premier League after they suffered title heartbreak for a second season in a row.
The Gunners claimed a late 2-1 win over Everton on the final day but Manchester City's 3-1 victory at home to West Ham crowned them champions for a fourth consecutive year.
Any chances of last-day jeopardy appeared minimal from the outset, but were reduced even further when City scored twice early on before Idrissa Gueye's deflected free-kick in the 40th minute put the visitors ahead at the Emirates.
Takehiro Tomiyasu levelled three minutes later, which was around the time West Ham reduced the deficit at the Etihad, but there would be no dramatic twist.
A tap-in by Kai Havertz with a minute left did at least ensure the Gunners ended a brilliant season on 89 points to show further signs of progress under their Spanish coach, who is determined to help his squad go one better next season.
"First of all congrats to Manchester City for winning the Premier League," Arteta said.
"Today some mixed emotions. First of all, to be really proud of the staff and those players. They've done an incredible job and they have pushed every limit and every margin that we could to try to win this Premier League.
"Unfortunately, it a bit short and we couldn't deliver the prize that we wanted.
He added: "They (City) took it away from us. It's the second season.
"There's only one way to do it - you have to be more determined, you have to be more ambitious, you have to have a lot of courage and push every limit in everything that we have. That's the next step.
"If we do what we have to do, we're going to be closer and at the end we'll win it. When? I don't know, but if we keep knocking and being that close, in the end it will happen."
Arsenal had been close to perfect in the league since the turn of the year with this a 16th victory from 18 games in 2024.
One of the two fixtures where they dropped points was a goalless draw at the Etihad, which proved decisive as Pep Guardiola's side clinched the title by two points, but Arteta pinpointed the 2-0 loss to Aston Villa last month as more crucial.
He also referenced the late miss by Tottenham captain Heung-Min Son in their midweek defeat to City.
Arteta added: "For sure, Aston Villa at home. In the first half it should have been 4-0. Maybe the story would have been different.
"What happened last Tuesday, maybe we could have been champions.
"These are the margins that are so, so, so small. That's the credit that the club and the team should take. We're doing this against the best team in the history of the Premier League by far."
Asked if it might take 100 points to win the title, former City assistant Arteta admitted: "Yeah. But I was there when we did 100 points (in 2017-18) so I know what it takes. I know what happened and this is the level.
"No-one has to explain what the level is because I was there four years every day and I know what we have to do if we are going to reach there. Not only for one season, but for the rest.
"We are on the right path, the right journey and to see the evolution so quickly happening, I haven't seen it before.
"So we're on the right trajectory and now we need to really pull the teeth and bite into it because we really want more."
Analysis from Sky Sports' Nick Wright at Emirates Stadium:
"The mood was one of dejection at the Emirates Stadium after the final whistle against Everton, the 2-1 win proving in vain for Arsenal as Manchester City emerged as champions again.
"But there was defiance, too, particularly from Mikel Arteta, who told supporters on the pitch afterwards that Arsenal's time will come. There was also appreciation, from players to fans, with captain Martin Odegaard thanking them for their belief, and the other way around.
"Manchester City remain tantalisingly out of reach for now, claiming the prize by a two-point margin, but Arteta's words are not empty promises. The potential of this team is obvious.
"The manager has overseen progress in every season since his appointment in 2019. Arsenal, a mess of a team and a club in a state of drift when he arrived, are now firmly at home among the elite, edging ever closer to the type of silverware they have long craved.
"Another second-placed finish is a painful outcome but they have done all this with the third-youngest team in the Premier League. None of their most important players, from William Saliba and Declan Rice to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, is older than 26. Their peak years are ahead of them. So are Arsenal's."
Arsenal fell painfully short of the title but there are plenty of reasons to believe their best is yet to come under their 'relentless' manager.
Read Nick Wright's feature in full here
Sky Sports' Gary Neville:
"A huge step forward for Arsenal this year, but they are up against one the best managers [Pep Guardiola] we have ever seen."
Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:
"This is the hardest part of the season. You have to show bottle, and show you're not scared.
"Arsenal have pushed Man City relentlessly this year and they have seemed to answer it time and time again."
Sky Sports' Micah Richards:
"It is a brilliant young team and there is more to come at Arsenal.
"Kai Havertz has done well and Gabriel Jesus has probably not played at a level which we expected when he left Man City.
"If you're looking on how they can improve they need to get a striker who can score all type of goals, even when Erling Haaland has not played at his best he has scored goals."
The 2023/24 season has reached its conclusion but planning has already started for the new campaign.
Several Premier League sides have confirmed pre-season friendlies ahead of the 2024/25 term, which kicks off on the weekend of August 17/18, while others have given fresh kits an early airing.
The Premier League fixtures - all 380 of them - will be released at 9am on Tuesday, June 18, with full coverage on Sky Sports News and Sky Sports' digital platforms.
The new EFL season starts on the weekend of August 10/11 and marks the launch of Sky Sports+, giving more choice to sports fans via live streams and a new dedicated channel, at no extra cost. In a broadcasting first, every EFL game across all three divisions - the Championship, League One and League Two - will be streamed live on the opening weekend.
Stand by for another busy summer in the transfer window - clubs can do business from June 14 until August 30 and the Sky Sports Transfer Centre will keep you posted with all the latest news and rumours.
Euro 2024 is just weeks away, too. Keep track of England's Euro fixtures, check out the full tournament schedule in Germany and join us on skysports.com or the Sky Sports app to follow every game with our live match blogs.
