SHOW ME THE MONEY
Arteta needs Kroenke cash to rebuild failing Gunners
The Europa League was their last chance of salvaging what has been another mightily frustrating campaign.
Against the backdrop of more fans’ unrest, the Gunners crashed out of the semi-finals to old boss Unai Emery’s Villarreal on Thursday, to leave their hopes of qualifying for either European competition in tatters.
What is obvious is that Arsenal require a complete revamp. Arteta knows that means that cash – and plenty of it – will need to be splashed when the transfer window reopens.
He said: “The squad needs changing. There were already a lot of changes [in the last window], something that has not been done in years, but it tells us where we were.
“Things are going to have to change and the owners are going to back it up. We have to do what we believe we have to do. Time is catching up right now.
“It’s a trend. It’s years now that this has been happening. If the distance and the margins with the rest become too big, then it’s almost impossible to do it.
“We are still on time, and we have put some very strong pillars and foundations in the last few months to do what we have to do. We are in the right place to do it and we have to do it.”
Asked whether the Kroenke family, who own Arsenal, will provide him with a sizeable budget, Arteta remained silent, though he nodded several times. Of more immediate concern to the Spaniard than finding
new players this summer is getting a big finish from the group he has at his disposal now.
After such a limp display against Villarreal, he wants them to show supporters that playing for Arsenal does mean a lot to them, starting with today’s clash with West Brom.
Arteta added: “I know that they all care. The ones that are here, I’m telling you, they care a lot and they’ve shown me that time and time again.
“Results on some occasions – or on a lot of occasions – this season haven’t been what we wanted. But I will defend them because they deserve to be defended by me.
“The level we have shown, some days it wasn’t enough. But the intention, the purpose and the professionalism to do it has always been there.
“We need to win the four games and see where that takes us in the table. We need to see a strong reaction now against West Brom.
“I know how much they care – but how much they care in the dressing room is not what we have to see.
“It’s how much they care when we go on to that pitch.”
It has been 18 months since Arteta replaced Emery (left) as Arsenal manager.
And he could perhaps have been forgiven at times in that period for wishing he had just stayed at Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s assistant.
But he said: “Before I came here, I said I thought I was so privileged to be in the position I was in.
“Now it’s not that I’m privileged, I’m honoured – and I feel that I could not be anywhere better than here, with the people that we have got.”