After experiencing disappointment in last season’s title race, Mikel Arteta engaged in a contemplative assessment of his role as Arsenal’s manager.
However, a period of deep introspection ultimately convinced him to remain steadfast in his position.
Prior to their hopes being dashed, the Gunners had held a five-point advantage over Manchester City in the Premier League standings. Unfortunately, a sequence of consecutive draws against Liverpool, West Ham, and Southampton proved to be their downfall. This setback was followed by a significant defeat to City, who secured the title with a five-point lead over Arsenal.
Reflecting on the subsequent summer, Arteta shared, “The initial weeks were quite challenging. The first step is to self-reflect and question whether there were better or different approaches I could have taken. If there were, I needed to learn from them. Self-evaluation is essential – to gauge whether I remain the right person to drive the club and the team forward according to my vision, and whether I possess the required energy and conviction.”
He added, “This introspection was a significant process, but the outcome is affirmative. I’m filled with energy and optimism.”
During the race for the title, Arsenal was ahead by 2-0 against both Liverpool and West Ham but was held to draws. In one of these instances, winger Bukayo Saka missed a penalty when his team led 2-1 against West Ham. Additionally, Arsenal managed a 3-3 draw against relegated Southampton with two late goals, before suffering a telling 4-1 loss to City.
Asked about the disparity between City and his team, Arteta pointed to momentum as the key factor. He explained that crucial moments where momentum should have shifted in their favor didn’t materialize, whereas City excelled at capitalizing on such instances.
Arteta emphasized that the team had games they should have won, particularly the three draws that altered the momentum. He acknowledged that they possessed ample opportunities to secure victories but lacked clinical finishing, luck, or made errors that led to unfavorable outcomes. He emphasized the need to acknowledge these shortcomings.
