Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are “STILL a long way” from reaching their potential but admits his players are eager to avenge the heartache of missing out on the Premier League title to Man City
- Mikel Arteta has stressed that his players are hungry to win the Premier League
- However, the Spaniard believes his team has not yet reached its “full potential”.
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Mikel Arteta claimed Arsenal are “still a long way” from their full potential when the club launch a new challenge for the Premier League title on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners took Manchester City to the final matchday last season, after also losing to Pep Guardiola’s side in the 2022-23 season.
Ahead of Arsenal’s opening game against Wolves, Arteta said: “I don’t think we’re anywhere near that full potential. We’re a long way from it.”
When asked if he could ever be fulfilled without a title, he said: “I don’t know. Of course, if you don’t see any room for maneuver and you think: ‘OK, I can’t squeeze the lemon properly, there’s nothing there’, then maybe one day. But at the moment I don’t see it that way at all.”
He also revealed that his players had vowed to him at a dinner just hours after Man City won the title last season that they would win the league.
Mikel Arteta claimed Arsenal are “still a long way” from reaching their full potential ahead of the new season
He also revealed that his players swore to him at a dinner just hours after Man City won the title last season that they would win the league.
Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title last season, losing to Man City
The Gunners beat Everton 2-1 but missed out on the cup by two points.
Senior figures including co-chair Josh Kroenke are understood to have attended the dinner, which was also attended by families.
“(They have been) hungry since the last day (of the season),” he said.
“We met with all the players in the club and the players said to me: ‘We will get better, we will do it, we want more.'”
“They are the ones who drive this ambition. So that’s always positive.”
Arteta (left) said his players have been hungry since their last game of the 2023/24 season against Everton
Arteta said of his team: “I don’t think we’re reaching that full potential. We’re still a long way from it.”
Arsenal will face Wolves in their first Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon at 3pm.
Arteta is honest about the margins at stake.
He added: “It’s like trying to climb the highest mountain or swim across the most difficult lake in the world, and you’re surrounded by people who have the same goal. We’re definitely going to try.”
