Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has declared that his team's remarkable consistency is the foundation for their belief in achieving a "special" and potentially historic season. The Gunners, currently sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League, are competing strongly in all four major competitions.
Building Momentum Across Four Fronts
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, 16 January 2026, Arteta pointed to his squad's performances as the source of their growing conviction. Arsenal have lost just twice in their opening 32 matches of the campaign across all competitions, building what the Spanish coach described as "very good momentum."
The North London club leads the Premier League, holding a significant advantage over defending champions Manchester City. They are also perfect in the Champions League group stage, have one foot in the League Cup final after beating Chelsea 3-2 in the semi-final first leg, and remain in contention for the FA Cup. This multi-front challenge marks their most promising campaign in years.
Squad Depth and Title Race Reality
Arteta emphasised that managing a deep and competitive squad is a non-negotiable requirement for any team with title ambitions. He cited the examples of recent champions like Manchester City and Liverpool, who succeeded with large, high-quality squads.
"We want this. We really have to accept this because there’s no other way," Arteta stated. "They haven’t done it with 14, 15 or 16 players — none of the clubs in the history in the last 10, 15 years. So it’s something that we want to be there. We have to do it and it has to be natural."
Focus on the Immediate Challenge
Despite the exciting prospects, Arteta immediately redirected focus to the next fixture: a Premier League away match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. He stressed that the belief gained from performances, like the recent win at Stamford Bridge, must be proven in every single game.
"The reality is that you have to show it in every game and there’s still so much to happen," he cautioned, while acknowledging the positive position. "But we are glad that we are still alive in the four competitions." Arsenal's last Premier League title was won in 2004, and Arteta's men are now firmly in the conversation to end that two-decade wait.
