Mikel Arteta says he’s obviously happy that Arsenal will be top of the table going into 2023 regardless of what happens against Brighton tomorrow, but insists there’s no room for complacency.
The Spaniard has made it clear throughout this season that he feels there’s more to come from his side, and once more he has urged his players to up their level as the title race begins to heat up.
Speaking at his press conference today, Arteta was asked how it felt to see the Gunners top of the Premier League, and said, “Very good, but my feeling is about tomorrow, playing well and performing at the level that we’re going to need to win the game against a really good side.
“They have a lot of individual quality, a lot of composure on the ball. They are a team that are really aggressive and they will ask some big questions. We’ll need to be at a really high level to win the game.
“That’s the focus. We are really happy with where we are but as I’ve always said, there are a lot of things we can still do better and improve – and we have to show that in the coming games.”
The manager was also asked about William Saliba, and the importance of securing his future.
“We have a few of those, where we are willing to extend the contract,” he said.
“William is one of them. In the months he’s been with us, he’s shown the quality and the personality he has to play at the level that we want.
“We are trying to do that because we know that he can be a really important part of our plans.”
And when pressed about contract talks progressing positively, he continued, “I hope so.
“That’s more for Edu and the board to discuss with him, but what I know is the player is really happy, the player wants to be here – and that’s the main thing.”
Thank God Saliba wants to stay with us.
There’s only two places he can realistically go, given where we are in the league and how special he is:
Real Madrid or Man City.
And he’s not a guaranteed starter at either.
I don’t see Saliba as a lifelong gunner, I think he might move in three or four years.
But he’d be mad to turn us down now. And I really don’t think he will.
Lifetime Gunner? Take a look at these two pictures https://twitter.com/afcstuff/status/1155220118454059015?t=mXE-Ql17IDzlTXGUKAcKhQ&s=19
Maybe I’m reading him wrong. Maybe it’s his cool exterior that means I can’t see the Arsenal fire in his belly. And hey, if we are the best team in the world, then why move?
But I’ve got a funny feeling Saliba will wear a Real Madrid shirt at some point in his career.
Which isn’t a bad thing is it? All our current players can’t all retire with us. Fanciful and highly unrealistic. You’d be surprised he will be among the last of the current crop…
It’s not a bad thing at all. I would much rather our players were sold to Real Madrid than Crystal Palace. Because that would mean they were exceptional. It will be difficult for us to hold on to players over the coming years. We have the absolute cream of world football. I know people don’t want to hear it when we are flying, but there’s very little chance that all of them will stay for the next decade. Given that Saka is Hale End and Martinelli has openly stated he would stay forever, if one were to go, I think… Read more »
Clubs can be ruthless to players and under Arteta, Arsenal has been that. Why would a player commit to a club ignoring his own interest? He could have played for Cameroun but almost won the WC a couple of weeks ago playing for France. You make choices based on what is good for you.
Have seen Mudryk in Arsenal shirt this week and don’t remember he played for us before.
Saliba wants to be here? That is good news. We need all our key players in on the Project Arteta is executing. In the next two seasons, we’ll be like City: a settled first eleven and a bench almost as good, if not as good, as those on the pitch.
*better than city
I wouldn’t mind that at all. Meanwhile, I hear they are in for Bellingham! How do you compete with a team with a seeming endless stream of hot, liquid cash? Frustrating. I hope we somehow do a Leicester this season.
They have cash, we the love and spirit
COYG
I don’t think we’re like Leicester. That was a one-off and they were powerless to stop their team getting asset-stripped by the likes of Chelsea and Man City as soon as they won the title. Thereafter they slipped down to their more natural level. We are Arsenal. If we win the title this season I think a more accurate comparison would be with the Liverpool side of two years ago. But unlike them, who were at their peak, we have a very young team that is only going to improve.