Arsenal had an “incredible journey” but “it was not enough” to overtake Manchester City, coach Mikel Arteta reacted on Sunday, convinced that the league title “will eventually arrive” for the Gunners, winners of Everton for honor this Sunday (2-1). “First of all, congratulations to Manchester City on winning the Premier League. What they have done since December is incredible,” commented the Spaniard in the post-match conference.
“We had an incredible journey, every performance index was at the highest level we have ever known, and yet it was not enough,” he continued. Arsenal ends the season with the best defense and with 28 victories (club record), like Manchester City, the quadruple defending champion undefeated since the beginning of December and winner of West Ham on the 38th and final day (3-1 ).
The title, “they took it away from us, and it’s the second season in a row, so there’s only one way to do it: you have to be more determined, more ambitious, you have to have a lot of courage, and push all the limits and everything you can,” Arteta said. “I know what we have to do if we want to achieve this goal, and not just for one season, but for the rest. But we are on the right track and the right path, and I have never seen such rapid development,” he said.
Arsenal were tenth in the championship when he arrived in December 2019. Under his leadership, the Gunners finished eighth twice, then fifth, before being vice-champions twice in a row. “In the end we will win. When ? I don’t know, but if we keep pushing and getting so close, it will happen eventually,” he promised.
“We are all a little disappointed,” captain Martin Odegaard said earlier from the pitch, after kick-off, microphone in hand to address the supporters. “We fought so hard for this big dream, we were so close.” The Norwegian attacking midfielder nevertheless said he was “proud” of the public, his partners and the “progress” of the team. “We changed the club and I think you all believe in us now.”
“What can I say? I feel sorry for all the Arsenal fans. We did our best but it wasn’t enough,” striker Kai Havertz said on TNT Sports. “Maybe in two or three months we will be able to say to ourselves that it was a good battle. Right away, I felt like we deserved more. It wasn’t enough in the end but we will be there next year,” said the German recruited last summer.