Arteta has some choice words for his Gunners
MIKEL ARTETA is showing the ruthlessness Arsenal need if they are to reclaim their status as a top-four side.
He was speaking ahead of today’s Community Shield at Wembley, his first press conference since Arsenal announced 55 redundancies. Players have expressed anger that the axe has been wielded despite assurances
they were given when the majority of them agreed to take pay cuts earlier in the summer.
But Arteta, who was instrumental in persuading them to make that sacrifice, said: “The players were happy to contribute and help the club in this difficult financial position.
“But that doesn’t mean that afterwards you are going to have a say in every decision made by the club. It can’t work like that.
“At the end of the day, it wasn’t an obligation, it was a choice whether you wanted to do it or not. And we tried to do the right things as human beings to help a club who have been supporting us, in my case for many years.
“The club have to be free to try to fight for the future in the most positive and stable way. And that’s how we do it.
“What is clear is that the club had a thorough plan of how they needed to restructure in order to function better and be more stable for the future.”
Arsenal need that because Arteta admits they cannot afford to get many decisions wrong if they are to get back into the top four.
“It is fundamental for the future of this club to play in the Champions League every season,” added the Spaniard.
“We need to make a lot of good decisions, put a lot of good work together, and make sure that we maximise all our resources on and off the field to try to achieve that.”
Arteta initially chuckled when he was reminded of Willian’s revelations that the Arsenal manager had told his new signing he wanted to win the Champions League in the next three years.
But he was certainly not back-tracking. Jurgen Klopp also inherited Liverpool in 10th place and took them to eighth after his first season.
Arteta wants to carry on following in his footsteps right to the top both in the Premier League and Europe.
“I don’t know how different it is going to be but I can assure you that my aim is only the top,” said Arteta. “I don’t see anything different.
“Our aim has to be all the time to be the best.”