Mikel Arteta was injured that Liverpool deserved Premier League champions instead of Arsenal, but he insists that it will not serve as extra motivation next season
Mikel Arteta said that it hurt him “great time” to view Liverpool last weekend, but the Arsenal manager insists that the men of Arne Slot seal the title, will not give him extra motivation next season.
The Gunners can take a huge step in the direction of confirming a third consecutive second place if they beat Bournemouth in the Emirates on Saturday evening.
And although they still dream of Champions League Glory, Arteta admits that Liverpool is “deserved” champions.
He observed a “little bit” of their party on Anfield on TV before he focused his attention elsewhere. And Arteta admitted: “It was in my stomach, yes. I understand that it is a team that is more consistent and it has many of the ingredients you need to win, but it is very painful, yes.
“My motivations are much more focused in aspects other than those, but it hurts to view it, that's for sure. They have done it in a way, in a certain way that the others did not give a chance. You must congratulate that and you have to accept that there are reasons why you couldn't achieve it and try to improve it.”
Nevertheless, Arteta felt the need to point out that their relatively light latter list has benefited enormously, even when the long -term speculation around Virgil van Dijk and the future of Mohamed Salah could have served as a distraction. “The good thing is that they always had them on the field, which is something very positive,” he added.
And that is something he thinks that Arsenal needs next season to bring a first league title to North Londs in 22 years.
The Gunners have had an important list of absent list for a large part of the campaign and arteta emphasized: “I'm not going to give you the title, but you have a much better chance (if players are fit).”
Those injuries now continue to influence the team and Arteta was reminded of this after the 1-0 defeat of the first legs against PSG when he entered the dressing room and saw seven absent stars together. “That could have been a starting setup and we don't have them and we don't have months,” he added.
He is expected to make some changes today with keeping midfielder Thomas Partey who goes back to have missed the first PSG match because of the suspension. “He is very important to us as a starter and is the player who played most minutes in that position,” said Arteta.
“We didn't have him for the biggest game of the season, but I thought Declan (Rice) did great and we have other qualities in midfield, so we see how everyone is like – we still have a few problems and problems with a few players. We will judge the team and we will decide.”
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