Did Arteta Envision Lifting the PL Trophy During the Final Home Game?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mikel Arteta visualized lifting the Premier League trophy.
- Arsenal's last league title was during the 2003/04 Invincibles season.
- Injuries and red cards hindered Arsenal's consistency this season.
- Arteta believes the team is close to success despite struggles.
- Next season, Arsenal aims to elevate their performance.
London, May 18 (NationPress) Arsenal's head coach Mikel Arteta disclosed that at the start of the season, he had a vision of lifting the Premier League trophy following the game against Newcastle United during the Gunners’ last home match of the season.
Since their remarkable Invincibles season in 2003/04, Arsenal has not secured the league title. They have faced a trophy drought for five years, with their most recent accolade being the 2020 FA Cup. A victory against Newcastle on Sunday could position Arsenal for their third consecutive season as runners-up.
“At the beginning of the season, if I had to visualize that moment, it would be playing the last home game on the final day and lifting the Premier League. That's what I had in my mind. Now, with all we've endured over the past 11 months, we can hold our heads high but still feel that pain in our stomachs, as that’s our goal,” Arteta stated in an interview with Sky Sports.
When questioned about what caused Arsenal to lag behind Liverpool in the title chase, Arteta responded, “Red cards and injuries, for sure.”
This season has seen Arsenal plagued by a series of injuries and they concluded the campaign without a striker. Additionally, they faced six red cards, some of which were contentious, ultimately affecting their consistency. Nonetheless, the Gunners' head coach remains optimistic that his squad will elevate their performance in the coming year.
“Without those setbacks, we can only speculate what might have transpired. Would we have been much closer? In my opinion, absolutely. Given our performances and what we’ve produced.”
“However, we need to adopt a different approach next season because the bar will be raised. Looking at the points we've accumulated over the last three seasons, the consistency of not clinching a title is quite unusual. We are very close, with a high probability; we must remain competitive and improve,” he concluded.