Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was optimistic after his side missed out on the Premier League title by the barest of margins for a second successive season.
The Gunners, who did their job on the final day by beating Everton 2-1, still finished just two points off Manchester City at the top of the table.
The Citizens have now won four titles in a row and six in the last seven years, with outgoing Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp the only man that was ever able to stop them in the incredible Pep Guardiola era.
Despite 89 points from their 38 games this season, plus 16 wins in their final 18 matches, Arsenal fell short. And Arteta, who worked alongside Guardiola at City, is fully aware of the level at which the champions operate.
“We are doing this against the best team in the history of the Premier League by far. In the last 15 to 20 years of the competition, the level is not like it is today. We are competing against an incredible team,” he told reporters after the game.
Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant coach back in 2018 when the Citizens became the only team in the Premier League era to reach 100 points in a single campaign.
He now believes that his side may need to reach similar heights if they are to bring the title to North London.
“I was there when City did 100 points. This is what it takes. Nobody has to explain the level,” he added.
“We have been pushing so hard. Unfortunately it was a bit short and we could not deliver the big prize. We are there and they took it away from us. There is only one way to do it, to have courage and push with everything we have.”
“We cannot feel sorry for ourselves. We are improving. It was an unbelievable season but we are not champions. We will win it. When? I don’t know, but we are so close.”
Pictured above: Mikel Arteta
Image source: @fabrizioromano
