As Mikel Arteta marks a significant milestone of six years at the helm of Arsenal Football Club, the Spanish manager has delivered a confident assessment of his project, stating the Gunners are now perfectly positioned to end their long wait for the biggest prizes.
Transformation Complete, Trophies the Next Step
Speaking ahead of a crucial trip to his former club Everton this Saturday, Arteta reflected on the journey since his appointment in December 2019. While an FA Cup triumph in 2020 remains the sole major trophy under his leadership, the manager pointed to a comprehensive overhaul of the club's fortunes.
"The transformation has been around the club in terms of the size, in terms of revenues, in terms of the squad that we built, the value of it, the sporting success that we had, even though we haven’t won any major trophies yet," Arteta stated on Friday. He emphasised the consistency of their progress, concluding, "I think it’s very, very consistent, so we’re in the right place."
From Top-Four Absence to Title Contenders
The statistics underscore Arteta's impact. When he arrived, Arsenal were languishing outside the Premier League's elite, having failed to finish in the top four for six consecutive seasons between 2017 and 2022. Under his guidance, the club has been resurrected as a genuine force.
Arsenal have finished as runners-up in each of the past three Premier League campaigns and have re-established themselves as regular participants in the UEFA Champions League. This sustained challenge represents a dramatic shift from the instability of the preceding years.
The immediate task is to cement their place at the summit. A victory at Goodison Park will ensure Arsenal are top of the Premier League at Christmas, a psychological boost as they pursue a first league title since the iconic 'Invincibles' season of 2003/04.
A Festive Period That Could Define the Season
However, the path is fraught with challenge. Arsenal's lead over defending champions Manchester City has been trimmed to just two points after a recent stumble. A draw at Sunderland was followed by another at Chelsea, before a damaging 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa – only their second loss of the entire season.
The coming weeks will test their resolve like no other. Arteta's squad faces a gruelling schedule of six matches between December 20 and January 8. When asked about his Christmas wish, the 43-year-old's answer was simple and relentless.
"Win, win, win, win, win all the games," he declared. "I’ll say the rest will come naturally, but my mood, my energy is going to be much better (if we win), so that’s what I want."
The message from the Emirates Stadium is clear: the rebuilding phase is over. After six years of foundational work, Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal are finally in the right place to convert promise into tangible, major success.
