Did Liverpool Truly Deserve to Win the Title? Arsenal's Mikel Arteta Weighs In

Synopsis
In a recent press conference, Arsenal's head coach Mikel Arteta shared his thoughts on Liverpool's title win. While he recognizes Liverpool's deserving nature, he also expressed deep pain over Arsenal's ongoing title drought. Explore Arteta's insights on injuries and team resilience amidst challenging times.
Key Takeaways
- Mikel Arteta acknowledges Liverpool's deserving title win.
- Arsenal faces a prolonged title drought of 21 years.
- Injuries have significantly impacted Arsenal's squad this season.
- Arteta takes pride in the team's resilience amidst challenges.
- Liverpool's consistency has made them formidable competitors.
London, May 2 (NationPress) Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta expressed his belief that Liverpool rightfully earned the Premier League 2024-25 title due to their remarkable consistency. However, he also acknowledged the pain of not securing the title himself. Arsenal appears set to finish in second place for the third consecutive season, extending their title drought to 21 years, with their last league triumph dating back to 2002.
"Absolutely, they are a team that has shown more consistency and possesses all the necessary qualities to win. It's indeed very painful for us," Arteta stated during a press conference.
He also reflected on Liverpool's championship journey, noting that Arne Slot's squad faced fewer injury challenges. Yet, he emphasized that this does not diminish Liverpool's achievement as the "deserved champions".
"It's fortunate they had no major distractions. Their players were consistently available on the pitch, which is a significant positive. Over the past decade, Liverpool has been a consistent contender for trophies, including the Champions League. Their performance level is expected, and they have executed their plans exceptionally well, making them worthy champions," he added.
This season, Arsenal has struggled with injuries, with key players such as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard missing substantial time. Currently, the team is also without Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jorginho.
When questioned about the injury situation, Arteta expressed pride in how the team has coped with the adversities.
"We manage with what we have daily. Just before our home game against PSG, I was surprised to see several players in the dressing room together, including Tomiyasu, Calafiori, Gabriel, Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Jorginho. I thought to myself, that’s our starting line-up, yet we don’t have them available," he said.
"We've been without them for many months now. However, I felt joy for the team and their efforts, and it's commendable that no one within the club is fixating on these setbacks. I take pride in how the players, staff, and the entire club are handling these challenges," he concluded.