Mikel Arteta sends warning to Bukayo Saka after Premier League title talk

10/05/2024 07:05 AM

Mikel Arteta says his players are free to say what they want, but has urged caution after Bukayo Saka talked up their Premier League title chances.

It has been a solid start to the season for the Gunners, yet to be beaten in the Premier League, Champions League or Carabao Cup.

The north London giants have been held to draws by Manchester City and Brighton in the top flight, so they start the weekend’s action third in the Premier League, but Saka is confident this is their season for glory.

After scoring in the 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, the England winger made the bold claim that he really fancies the Premier League title this season.

‘I don't want to put too much pressure on us, but I do think this is the year," Saka said on CBS Sports. ‘I think we've been close the last two years, and we're getting closer. But yeah, this hopefully will be the year.’

Arteta has not admonished his captain for the ambitious claim, but he has reminded him that there is an awful long way to go after just six games of the Premier League season.

While the manager says players can say what they want, he is not eyeing up the title yet or any time soon.

‘They are free to talk about it and express their feelings, and if they believe that is the case then great, as belief is the first thing you need to achieve any dream or whatever you want to achieve in life,’ said Arteta.

‘What I can say is we have only played six games and we are very far from it.

‘No [we don't talk about winning the title]. We talk about game by game, the training sessions, what we demand to ourselves and evaluate what we do every single day and how we can continue to improve and be the team that we want to be.

‘The rest will take care of itself and if we are good enough to do that at the end of the season we will chances to acheive it.’

Arsenal are clear favourites to keep up their unbeaten start to the campaign when they host Southampton at 3pm on Saturday.

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