Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal has ‘come very far’ in its progression this season

The season ended with a blistering 5-1 rout over Everton, but there was a sense of a missed opportunity at a sun-soaked Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side had Champions League qualification in their own hands before back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Newcastle essentially ended the dream.

Looking back on the season, there have been improvements, but also times when the club took two steps back, and that inconsistency is what has cost the team a top-four place. Heading into the last matchday, everyone essentially knew the Champions League would not be obtainable, but the squad put on a show nonetheless.

There has been gradual improvement since Mikel Arteta took over, and this season, Arsenal’s end of season tally is two more than last season’s total of 67, and the club has won four more games.

After the match, the Gunners boss spoke to Arsenal.com and said that the squad has come far and hinted at how the club can catch those clubs currently ahead of them.

Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal’s progress under his management during the 2021/22 season

“Well, with 67 points last year, Chelsea was in the Champions League,” Arteta said.

“That tells you everything, that tells you where the league is going. And we have come very far because it’s not only how many points we have made, it’s how we have made it. And the team that we had to make those points, that assessment has to be done in the right way, today is not the way to do it.

“We have, I have tried to squeeze that lemon as hard as I possibly could. There wasn’t one more drop, and I have done it with the passion and the love I have for this football club because these guys deserve it. Because I believe in them and because I think it’s the only way to try and compete with the teams that we have in front of us. Now we have to be more clever, quicker than them, and catch some ground.”

The offseason will be one of the most important in recent memory, with several players likely to be moved on. Arsenal needs to strengthen its squad with a new central midfielder and a centre-forward needed. Arteta says that the work for next season begins now.

“Now, because I cannot stop now,” Arteta said.

“We have a very important week to make some decisions as well and start to set the platforms for what we’re going to do in the summer. We are ready to do that, and we need to start to go.”

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Defender Rob Holding echoed his manager’s sentiments regarding the club’s current direction. The 26-year-old’s future is up in the air, but he has seen increased game time over the last few months, with injury being a catalyst for his inclusions.

Having been with the club for six years now, Arsenal’s number 16 says that the club is going in the right direction despite missing out on Champions League football.

“Yeah, I think the progress this year especially has been massive,” Holding said.

“We’ve really stepped up and the team is building. The connection with the fans has been amazing this year, with them being back in the stands from the two years of Covid.

“So yeah, I think we are heading in the right direction, and it’s a building block.”

There is undoubtedly a sense of what if around the club and its fan base, but strides are being made. Had someone said to fans at the start of the season that Arsenal would secure fifth position with a chance of Champions League football heading into the last matchday, nearly all would have taken it.

Now it is time to build on what has been a relatively successful season and look forward to what the club can do in 2022/23.