Mikel Arteta has shown a lot of faith in youth since taking over the reins at Emirates Stadium and is now looking to get some proven performers on board.
What did Mikel Arteta say?
The Spanish manager will continue to show faith in youth at Arsenal, but the Gunners’ head coach admits it’s time to build a big pedigree in his ranks by making top quality signings in the summer transfer window. The North London outfit is in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification yet again in 2021-22 as they reach the final round of the PL Fixes fifth in the table, but some continental competition will be on the agenda for next season. Emirates Stadium will need more depth to handle the high volume of work and it is hoped funds will be made available to allow the addition of markets to a squad heavily dependent on youth.
The Spaniard doesn’t give up when it comes to budgets, but admits proven reinforcements are required, saying of his plans for the next window that it’s all about balance. According to Mikel Arteta, they have now cleared the deck and now have a lineup balance that is much more like what they want and much more accessible than what they had before. Now they have to start adding high quality items that are not necessarily 18, 19 or 20 years old. Arteta says they are doing what it takes to get better in every department. Not only the age group, but also in terms of quality, in terms of leadership, in terms of the target threat of this team, in terms of the physicality of the team that they need to improve, so there are so many areas.
A little about the topic
Arsenal will be disappointed if they again miss this term at the finish line of the four, having already spent five years out of the Champions League party, but positive steps are being taken in the right direction. Mikel expects his side to be stronger in 2022-23 regardless of any business carried out from now on, with Martinelli, Smith Rowe and Saka a year older and wiser. Mikel Arteta said they won’t be kids for the rest of their lives, next season they will be more mature than this season and they should start somewhere with those kids.