Arteta admits Arsenal have gone ‘backwards’ in Premier League | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal have gone ‘backwards’ in the Premier League this season, but insists progress in Europe shows his side are close to major trophies.

Arsenal are second in the Premier League table and heading to a third consecutive campaign as runners-up.

However, the Gunners are 15 points behind newly-crowned champions Liverpool and can earn a maximum of 76 points this season. That total would still be down on 84 and 89-point hauls achieved over the last two campaigns.

Ahead of facing Liverpool this weekend, Arteta admitted his side have ‘taken a step backwards’ in the Premier League but praised their progress in reaching a first Champions League semi-final since 2009.

“For sure in the Champions League we have because we have done better than last season but not what we want because we want to win it,” the Spaniard said at his pre-match press conference.

“In the Premier League we have taken a step backwards, the points that we have created it is clear that we haven’t done as good as last season – that is obvious.”

Arsenal have now gone five seasons without silverware but Arteta believes his side are just ‘luck’ away from winning major trophies again.

“We are there. With the amount of points we have generated in the last two seasons, we should have, we could have two Premier Leagues.

We know are close we are, we are there. We are providing the numbers to win titles. We have to be a little luckier or still do better. Again, what we did in the Champions League – with those numbers, you have a big probability of winning it.

“There are many factors. You need it to go your way. The decision in the clinical moment – it is fine margins. What we have tried to do is amplify the margins. The bigger the margins are, it will be very difficult for the opposition.”

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