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MIKEL ARTETA will watch his Arsenal players give Liverpool a guard of honour this Sunday, all while grappling with a sense of injustice.
After their Champions League elimination by Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, confirming yet another season without trophies, the Spaniard has started to voice some questionable thoughts as mounting pressure begins to weigh heavily on him.
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Arteta claims that the Gunners have been the best team in Europe this season — a statement that few can substantiate.
Tottenham infamously managed to finish third in a two-team race during Leicester’s title-winning year in 2016.
In a similar vein, Arteta’s team risks finding themselves in a similar predicament, lagging behind Liverpool and Manchester City.
After a 2-1 loss in the Paris semis, he insisted: “I don’t think there’s been a better team in the competition at this point.”
Despite a rocky start in the group stage, where they sat at 15th, PSG has achieved significant success.
They previously ousted both Liverpool and Aston Villa before eliminating Arsenal.
Arteta noted that some members of the PSG bench felt Arsenal performed better over both legs, but Enrique countered that assessment.
Even more perplexing were Arteta’s remarks prior to the second leg — comments that could haunt him if Arsenal falters at Anfield on Sunday and finds themselves 18 points behind the champions.
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When queried about the pressure to clinch a title, Arteta responded: “Liverpool have secured the title with fewer points than we have in the last two seasons.”
“With points from the past two seasons, we could have two Premier League titles, so timing is key.”
Mikel Arteta’s assertion that the PSG bench told him Arsenal were the superior team over the two legs
Liverpool indeed has 82 points, compared to Arsenal’s totals of 89 last season and 84 the year prior.
However, Arteta seems to overlook that Arne Slot’s squad still has THREE games left to play.
The Reds could ultimately reach a total of 91 points, exceeding both of Arsenal’s previous totals. Currently, the Spaniard risks being perceived as The Deluded One.
Arteta must recognize that his team has regressed following two disappointing transfer windows.
During the first ten minutes in Paris, they performed excellently — yet they lacked a No. 9.
Bukayo Saka scored one but also wasted another crucial chance. Since returning from a three-month hiatus, Arsenal recorded four wins and three draws — but now they have lost three consecutive matches.
Furthermore, Saka is among only two players from the current squad who would fit into the Arsenal lineup that faced Barcelona in the last European final back in 2006.
This iconic team comprised players like Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, and Cesc Fabregas, with Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie on the bench.
In a theoretical combined XI, only Saka and Jurrien Timber would replace Alex Hleb and Emmanuel Eboue.
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Therefore, it is crucial for Arteta to refine his recruitment strategy this summer.
They need to acquire a top-tier striker — though luring either RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko or Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres won’t be easy.
Arsenal aims to secure a new left winger, and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is anticipated to strengthen the midfield.
The board is willing to invest significantly again, heightening Arteta’s expectations even further.
Having already poured in £700 million, the total could swell to £850 million by the end of summer.
Arteta wouldn’t want to be remembered as the manager who received the resources to build a great team but ended up creating one that failed to deliver, with just an FA Cup to show for his efforts.
Time is running out for the manager.
He needs to oversee a substantial turnaround — or risk making next season his last.
