There was a noticeable change in tone during Mikel Arteta’s address at the Emirates on Sunday.
Last season, after pushing Manchester City to the final day and narrowly missing out on the Premier League title by two points, the Arsenal boss was emotional yet defiant.
With a beaming smile, Arteta said in May 2024: “Don’t be satisfied, because we want much more than that and we are going to get it.”
Twelve months later – standing on the Emirates pitch once more having secured a third-successive second-place finish in the Premier League – there was an air of anger and frustration in Arteta’s words after the 1-0 victory over Newcastle.
The Spaniard said: “We had a dream, it was to bring the big trophies to you guys. Unfortunately, we haven`t been able to do it.”
“But make sure that chasing that dream doesn’t get blurry.”
“Make sure we chase that dream with enthusiasm and positivity towards next season.”
Ahead of what is set to be one of the biggest summers at the club in years, Arteta then did something he had previously been hesitant to do publicly: call out the owners.
Arteta told Sky Sports: “Finish the season, go to the beach, enjoy a few days and make sure the ones upstairs do what they have to do.”
It was a clear, unmistakable, and blunt message designed to remind the board just how crucial this transfer window is, and that they cannot afford any missteps.
In a clear message to Stan and Josh Kroenke – the holders of the purse strings in North London – Arteta knows he needs a few missing pieces to guide the club to major honours, and these players need to arrive in the coming weeks and months.
Otherwise, for the first time in his five-and-a-half-year tenure, the until-now loyal and supportive fanbase could turn against their manager and demand change in the pursuit of titles.
To avoid this, Arteta will be ruthless not only with new signings but also with departures. No one will be safe from being moved on, even previously reliable players.
He admitted in his post-Newcastle press conference: “We need players because the squad is really short, and on top of that we are losing four or five players that are going to end [their] contracts, and their loans are finished.”
“So, we need to be sharp, very disciplined in what we want to do, and make sure that we are strong next season.”
Those “four or five” include two loanees – keeper Neto from Bournemouth and winger Raheem Sterling from Chelsea.
Sterling is not expected to extend his time at Arsenal but remains unsure about his future in England due to a lack of communication from parent club Chelsea throughout this campaign.
His loan spell has been viewed as a disappointment, with Arteta having expected a much greater impact from a player he admired during his assistant coach days at Man City, bringing him in on deadline day last summer in a late move to add depth to the squad.
However, some will rightly argue that Sterling was given limited opportunities to build momentum on the pitch, even during Bukayo Saka’s three-month injury absence from December to March, having started just seven games in all competitions since the start of the year.
Arteta appears to have already moved on from the 30-year-old, choosing not to bring him on in what would have been his last chance to play in front of the Emirates fans last weekend.
While 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri has shown he can provide backup for Saka on the right wing, Arteta will push to sign a left winger this summer, which will pose a threat to the starting spots of players like Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Arteta’s ruthlessness is also needed at left-back. Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic is expected to be finalised soon as his deal expires at the end of the season, while Oleksandr Zinchenko has attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund after losing his place to academy star Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The Ukrainian’s leadership, influence in the dressing room, and positional flexibility are highly valued by Arteta, but again, with 12 months left on the 28-year-old’s contract, this could be an opportunity to cash in on a player they signed for £35m from City in the summer of 2022.
And then there is the midfield situation. On the pitch with his family and friends after the victory against the Magpies, Jorginho, 33, acted as though he was saying a fond farewell, with his contract soon ending and a potential return to his birthplace, Brazil, to see out the remainder of his career.
Thomas Partey is in a similar contractual position, but sporting director Andrea Berta is reportedly keen to explore a contract extension for the 31-year-old, even with a £51m deal already agreed for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
Arteta admitted last week that he knew Arsenal’s squad was too small even before this season began.
So, with five players potentially leaving the door, at least five will be targeted to replace them.
Zubimendi for £51m. Williams for £50m? Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres for around £60m? Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia for around £25m?
This will be a summer of significant change at Arsenal, and Arteta understands it is necessary to achieve great things.
