Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his side to bounce back after missing out on the Premier League title to champions Manchester City.
After Arteta’s team’s 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday was overshadowed by Pep Guardiola’s team’s 3-1 victory over West Ham, Arteta’s team finished two points behind City.
Arsenal has ended as runners-up to City in each of the past two seasons after failing to break their 20-year title drought on the final day of play.
But right after the game, during an on-pitch speech, an obviously distraught Arteta gave a rallying cry to the club’s heartbroken players and supporters.
“All this is happening because you started believing,” the Spaniard said.
“You decided to be patient, you decided to understand what we are trying to do and all the credit has to go to the team, the players, the staff. It is unbelievable.
“Now it’s time to have a break. Think, reflect and please, keep pushing, keep inspiring this team.
“Don’t be satisfied because we want more than that and we’re going to get it.”
Although Kai Havertz’s goal in the 89th minute gave Arsenal the lead, it was too little, too late for his club to pull off a stunning championship victory.
Havertz acknowledged that the disappointment of the final day left a bad taste, particularly after they had dominated 2024 with only one league loss to Aston Villa.
But he repeated Arteta’s promise that Arsenal will be even more formidable once the suffering subsided.
“I feel sorry for all the Arsenal fans, for us, we gave our best but it wasn’t enough,” Havertz said.
“Maybe in two or three months we can say ‘it was a good fight’, but right now I feel like we deserved more. It wasn’t enough in the end, but we go again next year.
“Sometimes it’s not fair in football, but we have to accept it. Football is hard, but hopefully we can go again next year and give the Arsenal fans what they need.
“It’s frustrating. When you see all the fans here it’s tough, but I can tell them next year we’re going to be an even better team.”
Photo by EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
