Mikel Arteta remains focused on ending Arsenal’s trophy drought, even after securing Champions League qualification with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United.
Declan Rice’s impressive goal in the 55th minute ensured the Gunners’ second-place finish in the Premier League for the third year running. Despite this achievement, Arsenal trails Liverpool by 12 points, who are set to play Brighton next.
Arteta’s squad had high hopes for silverware this season after closely challenging Manchester City last year. However, they fell short at key moments in the league. Their FA Cup journey ended early with a third-round exit against Manchester United. In the EFL Cup, they were defeated by Newcastle over two legs in the semi-finals.
Arsenal showed promise in the Champions League, reaching the semi-finals before being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain. This performance was one of their highlights in an otherwise mixed season. Arteta has only managed to secure one major trophy since his tenure began in 2019, winning the FA Cup and two Community Shields.
The Spaniard remains determined to bring success to Arsenal despite recent setbacks. “We had a clear dream to deliver a trophy this season to our people. Unfortunately, we haven’t done it, understanding the circumstances we’ve been through,” Arteta stated.
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Arteta emphasised that pursuing dreams should not overshadow recognising achievements. He noted other teams finishing lower despite facing fewer challenges than Arsenal. “I see every day the problems we have had and the problems throughout the season,” he remarked.
The manager praised his team’s resilience over ten months of difficulties without collapsing under pressure. “The mindset is so ingrained, and it won’t collapse,” he added, highlighting their mental strength.
Rice’s Impact on Arsenal
Arteta also commended Declan Rice for his match-winning performance against Newcastle. Rice’s curling shot from outside the box was his 19th goal involvement this season (nine goals, ten assists). Only Bukayo Saka has contributed more with 25 goal involvements for Arsenal.
“Especially in the last part of the season, he’s been exceptional,” Arteta said about Rice’s contributions. He acknowledged Rice’s role in winning matches and improving stats compared to last season while still having significant potential for growth.
Despite falling short of their trophy ambitions this season, Arsenal’s determination and progress remain evident under Arteta’s leadership as they look forward to future opportunities for success.