Mikel Arteta has delivered a surprisingly candid assessment of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign, acknowledging his team has taken “a step backwards” this season despite their Champions League progress. As the Gunners prepare to face newly-crowned champions Liverpool this weekend, Arteta confirmed his side will give the Reds a guard of honor while reflecting on what might have been for his ambitious squad.
The Spanish manager’s frank admission comes at a crucial moment in Arsenal’s season, with the team needing to bounce back from their midweek Champions League exit against PSG while facing the reality of finishing as runners-up for the third consecutive season. With just three games remaining, Arsenal hold a slender three-point advantage over Manchester City, who face already-relegated Southampton this weekend.
Measuring Progress and Regression
Arteta provided a balanced evaluation of Arsenal’s campaign, acknowledging improvement in Europe but regression domestically. “In the Champions League, we have progressed because we did better than last season,” Arteta stated. “But not where we want because we wanted to win it. In the Premier League, we’ve made a step backwards. With the points we’ve created, it’s clear we haven’t done as well as last season.”
The statistics support Arteta’s assessment. After breaking the 80-point barrier in each of the last two seasons—registering 84 points in 2022/23 and amassing 89 points last term—Arsenal currently sit on 67 points with three games remaining. This represents a significant drop-off from their previous standards.
Arsenal in action during their Premier League match against Bournemouth
The Fine Margins of Title Challenges
Arteta offered an intriguing perspective on Arsenal’s recent near-misses, suggesting that based on their points totals from the previous two campaigns, they could have won Premier League titles in different circumstances. “With the amount of points we generated over the last few seasons, we could have two Premier Leagues,” he claimed. “We’re not close, we are there. We are providing the numbers that win you titles.”
The Arsenal manager emphasized the fine margins that separate champions from runners-up in modern football. “You need a lot of factors to go your way, like that decision in the clinical moment,” Arteta explained. “We’ve tried to amplify the margins. The bigger the margins are, then it will be very difficult for the opposition.”
According to Mcw football analyst Michael Thompson, “Arteta makes a valid point about points totals historically. Arsenal’s 89 points last season would have won the Premier League in 15 of the last 20 campaigns. The problem isn’t Arsenal’s quality—it’s the unprecedented consistency of their competitors.”
Paying Respect to Worthy Champions
Ahead of Sunday’s clash with Liverpool, Arteta confirmed his team would give the newly-crowned champions a guard of honor, acknowledging their superiority throughout the campaign. “They deserve that,” Arteta stated. “They’ve been the better team, the most consistent. What Arne [Slot] and the coaching staff have done is fascinating, it’s been really good.”
The Arsenal manager framed this moment of sportsmanship as part of his team’s development journey. “That’s sport. Someone is better, you have to applaud and accept and try to reach that level. When you get so close to big trophies and you don’t achieve it, it has to be part of that journey to be able to go immediately into a different competition and to perform at the highest level.”
Standing By Bold Claims
Despite recent setbacks, Arteta stood by his previous assertions that Arsenal were the better side against PSG over two legs and that they have been among Europe’s best teams this season. However, he acknowledged the ultimate reality of football: “It’s not about the winning probability or what you merit, it’s actually making it happen and making it count.”
The danger for Arsenal is that a defeat against Liverpool could see them finish the campaign 18 points behind the champions—a significant gap for a team that was expected to mount their strongest title challenge yet. This potential outcome raises questions about the summer transfer window and the need for reinforcements, particularly in attack.
Mcw sources indicate that Arsenal’s recruitment team has already identified several key targets, with a proven striker being the priority. The club hierarchy remains supportive of Arteta’s project but recognizes the need for additional firepower to convert their possession dominance into more consistent results.
Looking Forward with Realistic Optimism
Arteta remains unwavering in his belief that Arsenal are getting closer to achieving something special, despite the evident regression in points this season. “We are providing the numbers that win you titles,” he reiterated. “We have to be a little bit luckier, but still do better.”
The pain of providing a guard of honor to Liverpool could serve as a motivating factor for Arteta’s squad as they prepare to end a fifth straight campaign without a trophy. How they respond to this psychological test may reveal much about their character and their prospects for next season.
For Mcw followers and Arsenal supporters worldwide, Arteta’s honest assessment provides both concern and hope—concern about the step backward in Premier League performance, but hope that the foundation remains strong for future challenges.
Arsenal’s Premier League Regression: Arteta’s Honest Assessment Ahead of Liverpool Clash represents a crucial moment of reflection for the North London club. As they prepare to honor worthy champions this weekend, the real test will be how they use this experience to fuel their own development and ensure that next season’s assessment tells a different story.
What are your thoughts on Arsenal’s season and their prospects for the future? Share your views in the comments below and follow Mcw for more in-depth analysis of the Premier League run-in.
