Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted feeling “painful” after his team fell short in their bid for the Premier League title, as Liverpool secured the championship with a 5-1 win over Tottenham, leaving Arsenal with little hope of catching them.
The loss dashed Arsenal’s hopes of claiming the title for the first time since 2004, extending their near-misses for a third consecutive season. Arteta, whose side had fought fiercely with Manchester City for the past two years, acknowledged Liverpool's success, despite the hurt it caused.
"I understand that Liverpool are a team that is being more consistent and they have a lot of ingredients that you need to win it, but it’s very painful," Arteta said on Friday. He congratulated Liverpool on their achievement, stating, "I take the opportunity as well to congratulate Liverpool and what they've done in the manner that they've done, how consistent they've been."
Arteta noted, “They were the better team. They had so many attributes. They had consistently their squad available. And we’re going to try again. But up to that moment next season, now we’re going to have to finish the season very strong.”
Arsenal’s pursuit of the title has been hampered by a string of injuries to key players, with six first-team members still sidelined. Arteta was quick to underline the significance of the injuries when reflecting on his side’s struggles. "I was very shocked just before the game against PSG at home because I was walking into the dressing room and suddenly I saw all of them together sitting," Arteta explained. "It was Tomiyasu, next to him Calafiori, next to him Gabriel Magalhaes, next to him Thomas Partey, next to him Kai Havertz, next to him Gabriel Jesus, next to him Jorginho. I said, 'That's a starting line-up'. And we don’t have them. We haven’t had them for many, many months. And then I felt joy about the team and what they are doing and how they’re trying and nobody’s talking about it in the building at all."
Despite the setback, Arteta expressed his belief in the team’s resilience and their continued push for second place in the Premier League. “We’ve got to finish the season very strong,” Arteta concluded, as Arsenal now face mid-table Bournemouth in their next fixture, sitting five points clear of third-placed Newcastle with four games remaining.
