Arteta and Odegaard rally Arsenal vowing to come back stronger | OneFootball

In the aftermath of Arsenal’s second-place finish in the Premier League, manager Mikel Arteta and captain Martin Odegaard offered their perspectives on the season, expressing both disappointment and determination.

While acknowledging the team’s progress and record-breaking achievements, both emphasised the need for greater aggression and a renewed focus on winning trophies in the upcoming season.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 19: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal reacts after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on May 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal‘s 2023/24 Premier League campaign concluded with a bittersweet 2-1 victory over Everton, securing second place for the second consecutive season as Manchester C115ty collected their fourth title in a row. While the team shattered numerous club records, including most wins in a season and highest goal tally, the elusive Premier League trophy remained out of reach.

Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his admiration for Manchester City, acknowledging their well-deserved title win. “Congratulations to Manchester City for winning the Premier League,” he stated. “We tried, we had a record season in many stats, but normally those records have to produce big titles, and we haven’t won it. That’s the regret today because we really wanted to deliver something special to our people.”

Despite the disappointment, Arteta focused on the positives, emphasising the team’s progress and the need to build upon their achievements. “Now we have to stop and reflect on why these things are happening,” he said, “and all the decisions that we made and the progress that we are making in the club, and not only the men’s team, which is really encouraging.”

Arsenal’s English midfielder #41 Declan Rice (R) and Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (L) react on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 19, 2024. Arsenal won the game 2-1, but lose out to Manchester City in the title race. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Looking towards the future, Arteta challenged his players to raise the bar even higher. “Now we need to show our teeth – you really want to win it, now we have to make another step forward, be very aggressive, very determined and find ways to be better than our opponents.” He also acknowledged the vital role of the fans, stating that their unwavering support has “transformed” the players and instilled confidence in the team.

Captain Martin Odegaard echoed Arteta‘s sentiments, highlighting the team’s growth and maturity compared to last season. “We’re making big steps all the time,” he remarked. “If you compare it to last season, we were a lot better and more mature with a new record of wins in the league, so we’re doing a lot of good things and it’s just a matter of time until we win some big trophies. We’re just going to keep pushing every day to do that.”

Odegaard expressed his gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support, stating, “The support we’ve had throughout the whole season away and at home – everywhere it’s unbelievable. We love them so much and hopefully next season we can come back and give them a good trophy to celebrate.”