Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are on the right track to major honours as they prepare for the start of their Champions League campaign and a Premier League clash with champions Manchester City. Sky Sports.
The Gunners began a huge seven-day campaign with a commanding win at north London rivals Tottenham last Sunday, but Arteta and his side face continued challenges as they travel to Atalanta for their Champions League opener on Thursday evening before facing league leaders Manchester City on Super Sunday the following Thursday.
Arsenal are still chasing their first Champions League title, while their wait for a Premier League title dates back to the 2003/04 season and Arteta, who guided the team to back-to-back league finishes, is confident the team are headed in the right direction as they aim for a trophy at the Emirates Stadium.
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“There is a huge organisation within the club,” Arteta told Sky Sports ahead of the north London derby.
“Firstly, because there is a huge emotional attachment among the people who run the football club.
“Second, we are all still very motivated and emotional about what will happen next.
“Our focus is on how we can get better, how we can continuously improve, and how we can try to deliver what so many of our supporters have been waiting for.”
Arsenal Football Club. I want to be here. That’s why I committed to this. Because I felt it. I’m lucky because there’s a football club and the people who run it have the same feeling of wanting to be together for this moment. Let’s keep going.
Asked what comes next and whether a major honour is the next step in Arsenal’s development, Arteta said: “That’s the direction we’re going and I think we’re on the right path.”
“But to deliver that trophy, it takes a little bit of leeway and a lot of detail and being in the right place at the right time, and we have to be there.
“We are there, and hopefully they will come too.”
Arteta is now in his fifth year as Arsenal manager and recently signed a new contract with the club that will keep him in north London until 2027.
Arsenal won the FA Cup in his first season as manager in 2020 and the Community Shield twice in 2020 and 2023, but have narrowly missed out on Premier League qualification in the past two seasons, finishing behind Manchester City.
Arsenal have made remarkable progress since Arteta took over as manager, having sat 10th in the Premier League, but the Spaniard is aiming for even greater improvement.
The joy I feel every day is unique. So it’s the best setting, and it’s especially good for Arsenal Football Club. That’s the only and most important thing. We have the right people, the right processes, the right goals to take this club to where we want to be.
He said, “In my job today, and maybe tomorrow, that’s the future. That’s reality.
“We obviously have a lot of plans and a lot of things we are trying to develop and improve on, but the reality is we are focused on what we can do today and what we can do better to make an impact on the team and the club.
“So let’s look at tomorrow and see what this looks like. Let’s go through it step by step.
“What I can promise is that I will do my best every day and continue to improve myself, challenge myself every day with (people) who are better than me and inspire me, and hope that will lead to good results.”
‘I told Sterling he should be here’
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Mikel Arteta says Raheem Sterling is desperate to prove himself and is confident he will do so if given the chance to play for Arsenal.
Raheem Sterling could be handed his first start for Arsenal when they travel to Italy to face Atalanta.
The 29-year-old completed a season-long loan move to north London from Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on deadline day.
Sterling will be reunited with Arteta, who served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager for seven years at the Etihad, and the Gunners boss says it took him less than 10 seconds to be convinced that bringing Sterling to the club was the right decision.
I would describe him as a very thoughtful, very mature, very demanding person who loves football. Give him the ball, give him time, and he will do it.
Asked whether he had any involvement in the deal, Arteta said: “It’s very simple. I spoke to Edu and he told me about the possibility and said it was a reality and could happen.
“He asked me what I thought and of course I was already very positive, but I had a question and I thought it would be resolved within 15 or 20 seconds of getting on the phone with Rahim.
“It was resolved a little bit earlier. I got a call and he said he dreamed of that call. That was it.
“We discussed a few other things, but when we saw a player who was genuinely interested in coming to the club and proving his worth and being involved in something that was inspiring and motivating from the outside, we said he should be here.”
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Raheem Sterling talks about why he decided to make a late move to Arsenal and his desire to make a splash at the club.
Sterling will face his former club when Arsenal travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with Arteta focused on helping the 22-year-old get back to his best form after an underwhelming spell at Chelsea.
Asked how he plans to get the best out of Sterling again, Arteta said: “It’s about creating the best environment and context possible for him.”
“He had a great year because of the people, the team-mates and the dynamic of the group we had. He saw the reaction from his team-mates and the supporters right away and that was a very positive thing.
“Now we have to try to help him when he gets a chance to play. When we train with him, he has to keep improving and give him the opportunity to show his talents.”
Watch Man City v Arsenal live on Sky Sports next Sunday, kick-off at 4.30pm.
