Mikel Arteta interview: Arsenal manager believes Gunners deserved to win last two Premier League titles and believes they can catch Liverpool | Football news
Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal should have two Premier League titles given the standards they have achieved in recent seasons – and the fact they have come up empty-handed gives the Gunners boss faith his side can catch Liverpool.
Arteta’s Arsenal spent the previous two seasons challenging Manchester City at the top, scoring 84 and 89 points, but had to settle for a runners-up medal both times.
City are out of action this season, but Liverpool head into what looks to be a crucial weekend at the top of the Premier League table with a six-point lead and a game in hand. Arsenal travel to Brighton on Saturday, before Liverpool host Manchester United a day later – both games live Sky Sports.
He asked Sky Sports’ Natalie Gedra on how to block out the noise suggesting Arsenal are too far from the top this season, Arteta replied: “Winning and doing the way we are today, regardless of what’s going on with the team and focusing on the things we can control every day – paying attention to it.
“Because what can Liverpool do? We were in that position. Two years ago we had 50 points in the first game and then we couldn’t win the league. It can happen to any team, it’s so difficult.
“We’re only halfway there and we’ve already spent what we’ve been talking about for weeks and weeks and weeks about the title race? That’s nonsense.
“Because there are many games to play, and in this league there can be one, two, three [results] and everything changed. We have to be ready.”
Asked what Arteta had learned from the last two seasons, he replied: “That you can always do better and you can always improve. With those numbers you normally win and we should have two Premier Leagues.
“The reality is that we don’t, so there’s more motivation, more desire, more enthusiasm to say: can we still look at our team and say we can be better? My answer is yes in every department, so let’s go.”
Arteta: Nwaneri wants to be the protagonist
Whether Arsenal sign a striker between now and the end of this January transfer window could be crucial to the Gunners’ hopes of reaching the top of the Premier League by the end of May.
The north Londoners’ need for extra fire has been heightened by the long-term injury to Bukaya Saka, whose knee injury before Christmas will rule him out for more than two months.
“It’s natural for it to happen,” Arteta said of the constant questions of the transfer window at this time of year.
“There is an opportunity to improve the squad, to bring in players who you believe can make an impact. We are always open to that.
“But that’s one part. The main part is: How can we get more out of the team, the individuals we have and focus on that?”
One figure to make a breakthrough in Saka’s absence is Ethan Nwaneri, with the 17-year-old becoming Arsenal’s third-youngest player in Premier League history when he started the 3-1 comeback win against Brentford on New Year’s Day.
The teenager started in Saka’s position on the right wing and played a big part in Arsenal’s third goal – and Arteta believes Nwaneri has the personality to play regularly for his side.
“The main thing is: don’t watch his birthday,” said Arteta. “It’s very important because when you start looking at his age, there are always limitations. And it’s not fair to the player.
“That’s what we see every day: how he trains and how he prepares, how his teammates look at him and how much they trust him. When a player is like this, the quality he has, the understanding he has and the personality he has to play, he needs a chance and deserves it.
“Off the pitch, he’s super humble, very polite and quiet. On the pitch? Complete transformation. ‘Give me the ball, I want to be the protagonist, I want to make things happen’. He’s really brave.”
Watch Brighton v Arsenal live on Sky Sports Premier League on Saturday Night Football from 5pm; start at 5:30 p.m
