Interview with Mikel Arteta: Arsenal Manager says he was planning to lift the title of Premier League this weekend and discusses transfer plans | Football news

Mikel Arteta revealed that he was planning that Arsenal raising the title of Premier League in his last home game of this season – and called on his club to increase his team in the transfer window as part of a “very exciting summer”.

Arsenal faces Newcastle on Super Sunday in their last home game of the season. The Gunners are 15 points behind the champions of the Premier League Liverpool and could even lose second place against the Magpies if they lose.

It was a scenario very different from what the Arsenal manager was considering in August.

“At the start of the season, if I had to visualize this moment, it would be playing the last home game on the last day and raising the Premier League. This is what I had in my head,” he told James Savura de Sky Sports News in an exclusive interview.

“Now, with everything we have experienced in the past 11 months, I think we can all hold our heads but always have this pain in the belly, because that’s what we want to do.”

Arsenal has now taken five consecutive seasons without silverware, having been eliminated from the Champions League and the Carabao Cup semi-finals, while they were eliminated from the third round of the FA Cup by Manchester United to penalties.

When asked what were the main reasons for not achieving their goals this season, Arteta was very clear: “Red cards and injuries, that’s for sure.” The Gunners have undergone more injuries than any other Premier League team this season, while their six shipments are also a summit of division.

“But without that, we do not know what would have happened,” added the boss of Arsenal. “Would we have been much closer?” For me, the answer is without question, yes. Because of what we have produced and the performances we have had.

“But we are going to have to do something else [next season] Because the bar will be raised.

“And when you look at the points we have had in the past three seasons, the consistency of not winning a title is very rare. So we are very close, close to the probability, we must continue to be there and to be better.”

Pushed further on the statistics that cost Arsenal this season, the director of Arsenal said: “A number is availability. Without that one, you have no chance of winning anything.

“There are other statistics which are very, very relevant to win football matches – not only dominate them, but to win them.

“But we are very clear about what brings us success and what we have to do, then work on them, be more efficient and be better. The other is the ability to change games every three days and during the match – that’s where we have a big margin.”

More numbers, replacement of outings and a new striker? Arteta on transfer plans

Talk quickly went to the transfer window and what Arsenal needs this season. Arteta thinks that the Gunners will need a larger team to compete with Liverpool next season.

Arsenal manager also believes that the stars outside contract – such as Thomas Partey and Jorginho – may have to be replaced, as well as loan players such as Raheem Sterling and Neto.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus went out with long -term injuries and may have trouble doing the start of next season.

“We need it, that’s for sure,” he said about summer signatures. “With the figures we started the season and [the numbers] To support the needs of next season, with the requests that we are going to have and especially with the players we have who go through long -term surgeries, it is very unrealistic [to deliver trophies].

“We know that we have to remedy ourselves and we will do our best to improve it.

“Especially because we are going to lose a lot of players. There are players outside contract, there are players who have come here.

“Thus, the team becomes really thin in addition to the injuries that we have. We know that we have this duty, this necessity and we have players from the academy that can help. Great, but if not, we know what we have to do.”

When asked if a new front forward is at the top of this transfer list, Arteta replied: “Everything that is in the two boxes that makes you better, I think – at the end of the day – it’s a key element. We all know.”

Arteta and Berta have lined up what is necessary

Arteta also promised a “very exciting summer” in northern London and said that he and the new sports director Andrea Berta are completely aligned with what is necessary on the transfer market.

The former leader of the transfer of Atletico Madrid, Berta, arrived in Arsenal in March, replacing the former sports director Edu Gaspar who suddenly left the club in September.

“It will be a very exciting summer,” said Arteta. “First of all, by examining what we have done. Find ways to increase the level of the team. Find big margins where we can always develop our game model and our players, then bring these plans together, playing pre-season.

“And then if we don’t have enough of that, then this is what we have to recruit now to make the difference.”

Asked about the conversations he had with Berta, Arteta replied: “From the first day, when we interviewed for this role. And he had it in front of him, it was very clear that it was, for me, what this team needs to go to the next level. And we were very aligned.

“And you can say – the experience he has, he built large teams and the major trophies he has won – someone with this clarity is very, very useful.”

Watch Arsenal VS Newcastle live on Sky Sports Premier League this great Sunday; Kick -off 4:30 p.m.

Sky Sports to show 215 live games next season

Since next season, the coverage of the Premier League in Sky Sports will have 128 games at least 215 live games exclusively.

And 80% of all the Premier League television matches next season are on Sky Sports.