Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, also addressed a question regarding rumors linking him to the position at Paris Saint-Germain, where he had an 18-month loan stint during his playing career, in an interview with Marca. He said he was “happy” and “grateful” to remain at the Gunners.
Despite the fact that it still “hurts deeply,” Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, is pleased with the advancements his team has achieved since he took over a team that had “lost its soul.”
Last season, the Gunners held a 248-day lead in the Premier League title battle until being finally overtaken by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who went on to win the treble, leaving the north London team trophyless for a third consecutive season.
Although Arteta confesses it still hurts that his team came up short, he believes there were many benefits to be gained from the previous term and throughout his entire time.
The 41-year-old Spaniard admitted in an interview with Marca that: “To this day, it still hurts me deeply, not having won the Premier (League) after spending 10 months fighting with City.
“But that’s the sport. That said, what has been achieved with such a young team is worthwhile. That is clear to me too.”
Arteta, who became the stadium’s manager in December 2019, continued: “This started (over) three years ago. I was Pep’s assistant at City, we played against Arsenal and I saw that the soul of the club had been lost.
“It was not enjoyed, it was not felt. I knew that there was the option, shortly after, of being on the other bench and I knew that this club is so big that you had to connect the team with the fans. It has been hard to do, and now I feel happy.
“We have a clear identity, there is union and we are full of energy. That’s the biggest thing. From top to bottom, they all push in the same direction.”
Arteta insisted he was “happy” and “grateful” to be at the north London club in response to a query on rumours linking him with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he had spent an 18-month loan spell during his playing career.
“I can only say that I am happy at Arsenal,” he said. “I feel loved, valued by our owners, Stan and Josh (Kroenke), and I have a lot to do here at this club. I am happy and tremendously grateful to be at Arsenal.”
On August 12, the Gunners play Nottingham Forest to open the 2023–24 season.
