Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta has generated significant attention with his recent statements, particularly in light of his team’s upcoming second-leg match against Paris Saint-Germain, where he made a bold assertion regarding Liverpool’s status as the confirmed champions of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Arsenal faces the danger of being labeled as England’s ‘nearly men’ after securing second place in consecutive Premier League seasons, both times falling short to Manchester City under Pep Guardiola’s management.
Their pursuit of the English championship remains unfulfilled.
Under the stewardship of Arsene Wenger, the north Londoners went unbeaten – the only team to do so in England’s top flight, we must add – in 2003/04, but lifting the Premier League title has evaded them since, despite often being genuine contenders.
Utilising Arsenal’s star-studded squad and the brilliance of Arteta should, theoretically, be a match made in heaven – but they’ve often fallen at the final hurdle when it comes to winning the elusive Premier League title, as evidenced in seasons prior.
In 2022/23, Arteta’s men racked up 84 points from 26 wins and six draws but ultimately lost out on the title by five points.
The season after, it was much of the same – but, this time, it came down to the wire, but Manchester City’s 3-1 win over West Ham United sealed their unprecedented fourth title in a row.
In the midst of his side’s preparations for their Champions League second leg, Arteta claimed that timing can be crucial when it comes down to winning major trophies – something he hasn’t done since being in the Emirates Stadium dugout.
He said:“Winning trophies, as well, is about being in the right moment, in the right place.
Liverpool have won the title with less points than we had in the last two seasons.
With the points from the last two seasons, we’d have two Premier Leagues.”
On the back of a resounding 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in late April, Liverpool’s Arne Slot became the first Dutchman to win the Premier League as boss.
He did so with four games remaining and 82 points on the board, which – as Arteta pointed out – is fewer than what Arsenal have earned in the past two seasons.