Mikel Arteta warned Arsenal the competition will be even tougher if they hope to ride another mount Premier League next season’s championship fight.
wolves Visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday for a fixture that looks like at one stage will celebrate Arsenal’s coronation as champions for the first time in 19 years.
Instead, they play their last game, eight points behind the champions. Manchester CityThe same margin Arteta’s side led in early April, their bold championship propensity finally came to an end, losing to Nottingham Woods last Saturday.
Arsenal’s challenge was City’s 4-1 against Gunners after a 2-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield on Easter Sunday followed by a consecutive draw against West Ham and Southampton. has dwindled since he finally took control of the race with a big win. Etihad.
Arteta has urged his players to nonetheless finish on top of an unforgettable season against the Wolves, but signaled that next season will be an even more intense challenge if the club finally ends its twenty-year wait to be champions.
“Next season the competition will be even harder,” said Arteta. “I think this has been the toughest season in the 22 years I’ve been in the league.
“We have a really promising plan to compete (compete), we need to think a little, take a step back, make sure this is the right plan, and get back on track with more determination and hunger to do even better.
Now it’s about finishing the season in style and delivering a great performance and a victory to show our appreciation in front of the public.
“(We) took the incredible energy they gave us throughout the season and we’re going to start building for next season. We need to complete this in the best way possible. It was an emotional journey.
“From some perspective, there are many things that have happened at the club that deserve great praise for many people.
“We have to nail everything we do, seek excellence in everything we touch, and join those who will make a big impact at the club.”
Arsenal’s late collapse was fueled in part by the injury-stricken loss of defender William Saliba in March, and agent Rob Holding was criticized for failing to capture the 22-year-old’s authoritarian form throughout the season.
Arteta is hopeful that the back injury sustained by the defender during the team’s exit from the Europa League to Sporting Lisbon will not extend into next season and will be ready to resume training after the summer.
There is also optimism that Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has played only 21 times in the league due to injury, will play in the pre-season.
Arteta said about Saliba: “It’s developing in the right direction, the last few weeks have been much more positive than the previous two months.
“We wanted to protect him, it’s an injury that needs some care and attention. We’ve been very conservative to give him the best possible chance to have a good pre-season and go back next season.
“Tomiyasu will be pre-season (back) like Willy, they will be in a good place. The kids work so hard that it has been a really tough year for (Tomiyasu) because of some issues he’s had.
“He’s a great person, a top professional, we just want him to be available because he really helps the team when he’s there.”
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