Mikel Arteta believes the work he has done over the past six years has placed Arsenal in a strong position to win major honours, as he celebrates another milestone as the club’s manager.
A win away at Everton on Saturday would ensure Arsenal sit top of the Premier League at Christmas, as they continue their push for a first league title since the famous 2003/04 unbeaten season.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013, Manchester United have struggled to reclaim domestic dominance, but Arsenal under Arteta have steadily rebuilt their competitive edge. Although the Spaniard has delivered just one major trophy—the FA Cup early in his tenure—he has restored the club’s status as title challengers and regular participants in the Champions League.
After finishing outside the top four for six consecutive seasons between 2017 and 2022, Arsenal have ended the last three campaigns as Premier League runners-up, signalling sustained progress under Arteta’s leadership.
Reflecting on his time at the club, the former midfielder highlighted how far Arsenal have come both on and off the pitch.
“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 said on Friday.
“I think it’s very, very consistent, so we’re in the right place.”
Arsenal currently lead Manchester City by two points at the top of the table, though recent results have tightened the race. Draws against Sunderland and Chelsea, followed by only their second defeat of the season at Aston Villa, have reduced their margin.
The festive period promises to be a demanding one for the Gunners, with six matches scheduled between December 20 and January 8. Despite the intensity of the run-in, Arteta made it clear what he wants most as the year draws to a close.
“Win, win, win, win, win all the games,” he said.
“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.”
What you should know
Mikel Arteta has overseen a steady revival at Arsenal since taking charge six years ago, turning the club from inconsistent top-four hopefuls into genuine Premier League title contenders.
While silverware has been limited to an early FA Cup win, Arsenal’s consistent second-place finishes in recent seasons underline their progress. Sitting top of the table heading into Christmas, the Gunners are once again firmly in the title conversation.
Arteta believes the foundations laid in squad quality, club structure, and performance levels mean Arsenal are closer than ever to ending their long wait for a league crown.
