'We should win it': Mikel Arteta names the game that lost Arsenal the Premier League title last season
07/04/2024 07:35 AM
Mikel Arteta has just reflected on the game that cost Arsenal the Premier League title to Manchester City last season.
Arsenal ran City close for the league as they finished on 89 points, just two behind Pep Guardiola’s relentless side.
For much of the season Arsenal were running well and heading into the final four or five weeks, they were in pole position to land the title for the first time since 2004.
But ultimately, they missed out and Arteta has revealed all on why.
Mikel Arteta names Aston Villa game as one of the deciding factors
Speaking to EPSN, Arteta was asked if the defeat to Aston Villa in April ultimately cost them the league title.
“The small margins, we have the game against Villa and when you look at the expected goals of what we generate just throughout the game, we should win it, but we don’t,” the 42-year-old said.
“So efficiency in the box was a dictator of success when we are so dominant like we are right now in many games.”
Arteta then appeared to suggest referees led to dropped points, too.
“You have decisions as well. They are not in your hands and they can take a point or two points or three points away from you and that can decide the title.”
Mikel Arteta hints at tactical tweak
After discussing last season’s disappointment and missing out on the title, the Spaniard seemed to suggest that he’s going to make a tactical tweak this season.
“At the end, we are going to have to be that good that our worst version is going to have to be much better than the best version of the opponent.
“This is what we are going to try to do and in order to do that we are going to have to dominate a lot of things that are going to be difficult to identify with your eyes when you watch a football match. I’ll leave it there.”
