Arteta says Arsenal need to ‘have the best players’ to win trophies after links to Real’s Rodrygo | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the club need to have the best players in order to be in the position to win silverware.

The Gunners head into their final Premier League game of the season against Southampton with second place secured for the third consecutive season, but yet another one without silverware.

Reports in the last 24 hours have linked Real Madrid winger Rodrygo with a move to the Emirates for next season, with Arteta proud of how far the club has come to be in the reckoning with some of Europe’s best.

However the Spaniard did not play down the significance of adding a quality player into his frontline.

“I think the biggest thing is that, and using the word pride,” Arteta said. “We have brought the club into a position, into a place that next season: ‘You have to win a major trophy.’

“That means that everybody believes, that we have the level, that we have shown the consistency, and we are an elite team in this country and in Europe.

“And if you don’t do that, then what’s going to happen? So, for me that’s the biggest statement, that Arsenal is there.

“If you want to win major trophies, you have to be the best in the market, no? The teams that win have the best players, always, always at this level.

“What we have, what is clear as well with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line, that we need a goal threat and we need the firepower out there.

“Understanding that the context can change tomorrow, you know, and we cannot rely just on the numbers that we had before.

“And we have to add goal, we have to add creativity, we have to add numbers and that will be in different positions.