Football

“We are gonna get it!” Mikel Arteta asks fans to not get satisfied after falling short of Premier League title Arsenal failed to lift the Premier League title on Sunday, as they ended second on the table, two points behind eventual champions Manchester City. The Gunners did their part, beating Everton 2-1 at home. However, Pep Guardiola’s team also secured all three points at home, getting the better of West Ham United by a score-line of 3-1. For the second consecutive season, Arsenal have finished as the runners-up in the Premier League to Manchester City. This time Mikel Arteta and his side fought right until the final matchday, falling short of the title by just two points. Mikel Arteta had a strong message for Arsenal fans after ending the season with a victory over the Toffees. The Spanish boss urged the Gunners to not stop believing, and they would eventually win the title in the coming seasons. “All this is happening because you started believing. You were patient”. All the credit has to go to the players and the staff. They are unbelievable. But don’t be satisfied. We want much more than that – and we are gonna get it!,” said Arteta. Arsenal fall just short of the title as Mikel Arteta urges fans to not lose hope Arsenal hardly put a foot wrong in the second half of the season. The Gunners suffered just one defeat in 2024, coming at home to Aston Villa which proved to be a real setback. They secured victories over Manchester United and Spurs away from home, and defeated title rivals Liverpool at home as well. Manchester City proved their mettle once again in the title race, as they held their nerves to get over the finish line. Pep Guardiola’s side have now become the first team to win the Premier League in four consecutive seasons, as their dominance in English football continues. However, as for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, it is back to the drawing board after a couple of months of rest. The Gunners are expected to make a couple of key reinforcements to their squad this summer. Despite the fact that Arsenal could not lay their hands on the title this season, one must credit Mikel Arteta’s side for the incredible effort and character they have displayed in the final half of the season

“I would worry for Arsenal at that point” : Rio Ferdinand believes Bayern start as favorites in the second leg of UCL quarterfinals Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has made a big claim ahead of Arsenal’s second leg clash against Bayern Munich in the UCL quarterfinals. He believes that the German side holds the advantage, despite their poor home in the past couple of months. Arsenal succumbed to a home defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday, which put a major dent to their title aspirations. Rio Ferdinand believes that the fixture against Bayern Munich is the biggest match of the Gunners’ season, as losing in the Premier League and Champions League in the same week could halt their progress. The first leg at the Emirates ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw, as Bukayo Saka was denied a last minute penalty. However, Rio Ferdinand believes that Bayern Munich have all the experience it takes to see of Arsenal on home soil on Wednesday night. “I think it’s advantage Bayern Munich. Bayern are at home and have all that experience in Europe. Arsenal could win but it’s advantage Bayern for me. Can you imagine if [ex-Tottenham captain] Harry Kane knocks them out of Europe? The biggest game of Arsenal’s season is on Wednesday night. If they lose that game, this team will never have been that low under Mikel Arteta,” said Ferdinand. Rio Ferdinand believes it is a massive opportunity for Arsenal to reach UCL semifinals Arsenal have failed to reach the semifinals of the Champions League since 2009. Hence, Rio Ferdinand believes that this is a massive opportunity for the Gunners to prove themselves on the European stage. However, he believes that a defeat would just compound the misery on Mikel Arteta and his players. “To have a week like this, where you were in control, to then lose control in the league and then you’re out of the Champions League… I would worry for Arsenal at that point. But as I said, we have a beautiful opportunity, an opportunity that hasn’t happened at this club for 14 years to get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, so it cannot come in a better moment,” Ferdinand added. Arsenal faced their first defeat of the season in the Premier League on Sunday, after losing 2-0 to Aston Villa at home. This comes after their spell of 11 unbeaten matches, where they won 10 matches, and drew one game. This run included a home win over Liverpool, and a stalemate with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. With just six games remaining in the season, and impending visits to Old Trafford and Spurs, the Gunners will need to win all their remaining games, and hope that their rivals drop a couple of points. Also Read: “I forgot already” – Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s title collapse last season

“I forgot already” – Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s title collapse last season Arsenal have continued their unbeaten run in the Premier League since the start of the year, as they claimed a comfortable victory over Brighton on Saturday. The visitors handed Brighton their first loss on home soil since August last year, as they claimed a 3-0 victory. Mikel Arteta’s team moves to the top of the Premier League table once again, as Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester United on Sunday. This means that the three title contenders are separated by just one point, with just seven matches to go. Mikel Arteta was asked about Arsenal’s title collapse last season, and if it is still fresh in his memory. The Gunners led the Premier League for majority of the last season, however, dropped some vital points towards the end of the season which helped Manchester City complete a hattrick of league titles. Mikel Arteta urges his side to continue with their stellar displays Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has urged his side to continue with their stellar displays. Since the start of the year, the league leaders have collected 31 points from a possible 33 in the Premier League. This includes a victory over Liverpool at home, and a 0-0 stalemate at the Etihad Stadium last week. “I forgot already,” Arteta when asked about the title collapse last season. “I don’t know [if there is a difference in his side’s mentality this season]. I think we’re in a really good moment. We have the squad healthy with a really good energy and a lot of confidence individually and collectively. We have to just keep doing what we’re doing.” Arsenal have a big game coming up over the weekend, as they face Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. The Gunners will be hosting a struggling Bayern side, who are on the verge of losing their Bundesliga title for the first time in over a decade. It is two home games back to back for Arsenal, as they will also host Aston Villa over the coming weekend. Also Read: “He’s the best coach in the world by a mile,” Mikel Arteta lavishes praise on Pep Guardiola ahead of crunch title clash

“If you can’t win it, make sure we draw it,” Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal did ‘really well’ against the best team in the world The two title protagonists Arsenal and Manchester City played out a draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. This means that Liverpool have climbed to the top of the table, after their 2-1 victory over Brighton at Anfield. Manchester City dominated the possession for almost the entirety of the match, however, just could not create much in front of goal. Mikel Arteta’s men defended quite well, as they rarely had a lapse in concentration. Mikel Arteta was delighted with the defensive performance, as Arsenal left Etihad with a point to show for. The Gunners have taken four points off Manchester City this season, and kept two clean sheets against the reigning champions. “Huge – it’s extremely difficult to do that but that tells you the commitment of every player, the discipline that they showed and how they compete. One thing is to play a football match and the other is to compete [in] it. Against this team, we did that today really, really well,” said Arteta on keeping two clean sheets against Manchester City in the post-match press conference. “We still have much more to come,” Arsenal’s brilliant start to the year continues Mikel Arteta stated that the team prepared to win the match against the reigning champions, and leave Manchester with all three points. However, the hosts dominated the match, and the plan switched to go back home with a point. The Gunners are now undefeated in their last nine Premier League games, winning eight consecutive matches before their stalemate with Manchester City. I don’t know. “You want to win the game, we prepared to win it. If you can’t win it, make sure we draw it, and we did that. Eleven months ago we were here and the story was very different, and you have to continue to make steps as a team and try to improve and today we have done that. We still have much more to come,” Mikel Arteta on the title race. Arsenal sit second in the Premier League with 65 points, whereas, Liverpool lead the three-way title race with 67 points. Manchester City have 64 points in their tally, with nine games remaining. The Gunners will now host Luton Town in the midweek, before they travel to Brighton over the weekend. Also Read: “He’s the best coach in the world by a mile,” Mikel Arteta lavishes praise on Pep Guardiola ahead of crunch title clash