GUNNERS NEED TO MAKE GIANT LEAP
Arteta looking for big progress next season
MIKEL Arteta will send his players out to face Everton tomorrow having told them to “live a great day”.
But if they fail to overtake Tottenham he admits it has been a huge missed opportunity. Either way, with Arsenal still so far from the top two in the Premier League, next season needs to be another giant stride forward to meet the expectations of the fans.
After two successive eighthplaced finishes, the Gunners will end up fifth unless they beat Everton at the Emirates and Spurs lose to Norwich at Carrow Road. Arteta watched the Toffees secure their own Premier League future on Thursday with a remarkable comeback win and takes inspiration from that.
“Hopefully in front of our people we can live a great day,” he said.
“I believe we will do what we have to do and we will be cheering for Norwich to do what they can do.
“I was watching Everton against Crystal Palace and that gives me more encouragement about what could happen on the last day at Norwich because this happens only in this league.
“It’s what makes this league such an incredible league because in many other countries when there is nothing to play for you don’t see those kinds of performances. We are hoping something special can happen.
“Looking back a few years and I’ve seen examples of teams playing in the last game of the season and things happening. The closer the game is, I am hopeful.”
Arsenal looked to have taken a huge step towards the Champions League when Eddie Nketiah, above, scored both goals in their 2-0 victory over Leeds on May 8. But then defeat in the north London derby was followed by another loss at Newcastle.
“Was this a missed opportunity? It will be for sure because we were there and mathematically it was possible and it was in our hands,” Arteta admitted. “That feeling could be there if it happens, and it will take some time to take away that stuff.
“But that is part of football and you cannot take notice of what happened a week or two weeks ago whether it was positive or negative. Because it is not going to have an impact on anything.”
Either way, Arteta will be too busy planning for next season.
“Overall looking back at where we were, we are clear this is not where we want to be,” he conceded. “We want to be in a completely different position, challenging the top teams and that is the aim.This is not going to stop here, there is another step.”