‘Nearly men’ Arsenal ready to ‘make the next step’ for trophies
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta taking questions during a pre-match press conference at National Stadium on July 21.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Follow topic:
- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta aims to transform his team from "nearly men" into champions by improving existing players and making key signings.
- The Gunners have invested heavily, spending close to €150 million on players. Other teams like Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea are also strengthening their squads.
- Arteta believes his squad have the right balance and highlights the importance of integrating young talent like Max Dowman into the first team.
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SINGAPORE – Songs and jibes of “nearly men” and “second again” have been aimed at Arsenal by rival fans, after the Gunners finished runners-up for three consecutive campaigns.
Mikel Arteta, the man tasked with turning the perennial bridesmaid into a winning machine, knows more than most that if Arsenal are to silence the doubters, they must finally “make the next step” towards silverware.
Despite showing early promise in the last three seasons, Arteta’s men have come up empty each time, with their last major trophy won in 2020.
“The only thing that they were talking about at the end of last season and the first day through the door (this season) is ‘OK, how are we going to be better? How are we going to do more?” said Arteta in an interview with The Straits Times and members of the English press at the National Stadium on July 21.
“We know that we are so close now in two big competitions and we just want to make the next step. There are going to be a lot of details and moments that have to go our way. We have to push for that to happen.”
And a big part of that push is showing in the transfer market. Arsenal have splashed out close to €150 million (S$224 million) on four signings: winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, and midfielders Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi from Brentford and Real Sociedad respectively.
Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera is expected to be their fifth summer signing, with reports suggesting that both sides have agreed a deal worth an initial £13 million (S$22.5 million) for the 21-year-old Spaniard. Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals for Sporting Lisbon last season, is also said to be close to moving to the Emirates Stadium in a deal reportedly worth over €70 million.
But Arsenal are not the only side investing heavily in the off-season. Defending champions Liverpool have already spent €213.68m on German sensation Florian Wirtz, Hungarian defender Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, Dutch fullback Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and Hungarian goalkeeper Armin Pecsi (Puskas Akademia).
On July 21, it was reported that Liverpool have agreed to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike for an initial £69 million.
Manchester City, who finished three points behind Arsenal, have spent €145.70m so far on dynamic midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers, attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki (Olympique Lyonnais), back-up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli (Chelsea) and Norwegian starlet Sverre Nypan (Rosenborg).
London rivals Chelsea have shelled out €243.77m on players such as winger Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund), forwards Joao Pedro and Liam Delap (Brighton & Hove Albion, Ipswich Town), Brazilian winger Estevao (Palmeiras) and central midfielder Dario Essugo (Sporting Lisbon).
When asked by ST if he still felt Arsenal have what it takes to win the title, despite other clubs’ movements, Arteta said: “Yes, I do. It is getting more and more competitive each year. The level is increasing. We know that, so our demands have to increase as well.
“But we have also been very active in the market. We have to improve the players we already have, which is a massive objective. And then, set the right fundaments and the right principles in pre-season to get the team ready with the best possible shape and availability to start the season.”
The Spanish tactician noted that his squad have the right balance in terms of maturity, experience, youth and hunger. He added: “The thing is there are another six, seven, eight clubs in the league that have the right ingredients to win and there is only going to be one winner. So we have to focus a lot on the things that we can control, that we can do, to achieve what we want at the end of the season.”
The Gunners will kick off their pre-season tour of Asia against Italian giants AC Milan on July 23 at the National Stadium.
They will conduct an open training session on July 25 at the same venue before facing English League Cup holders Newcastle United two days later.
Fans could catch a glimpse of 15-year-old attacking midfielder Max Dowman in action if he is given a run-out this week.
Part of the 30-man squad here, Dowman scored 19 goals in 23 games in all competitions for Arsenal’s youth teams last season and became the youngest scorer in European Under-17 Championship history, when he netted in England’s win over the Czech Republic in May.
On whether Dowman could have a big season ahead, Arteta said: “We want to get as much talent as we possibly can from the academy and bring it up to the first team. The way they adapt at that age, I could not do it but I think this generation goes faster, they are ready a little bit earlier. We don’t have to rush. We must make sure we manage the right steps and the right expectations for all of them and then let’s see what they demand.”
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