Even Mikel Arteta, Arsenal head coach, will not deny that his side has gone backwards in the Premier League this term. He is clear-eyed about the necessity of doing better moving ahead. Arsenal here has only accrued 67 points total in the 2024/25 season. This performance is a stark contrast to their incredible point totals in recent years. As the team prepares to face Liverpool on Sunday, Arteta’s comments highlight both the progress and the challenges encountered throughout the season.
Arsenal experienced a noteworthy rise in their league performance over the past few seasons, culminating in an impressive 89 points last season (2023/24) and 84 points in the preceding year (2022/23). Yet even with that advanced context, this season’s resulting points total is a shocking drop-off. Arteta added that even though 80 points has been enough to break into the top-four in recent years, this year’s total is not enough by his standards.
Recent Performance and Future Challenges
As Arsenal approaches the final matches of the current season, they hold a three-point lead over Manchester City, who are set to face relegated Southampton. If Arsenal loses to Liverpool, they’ll be in an almost impossible position, 18 points behind the current champions. As Arteta knows, the consequences of playing poorly in these matches and the importance of a strong finish can be immense.
We’re not close, we are there. But we are giving you the figures that win you titles,’ Arteta said. He said they’ll need further improvement and a stroke of luck to convert their recent run of form into conversion.
“We have to be a little bit luckier, but still do better.” – Mikel Arteta
The pressure mounts as Arsenal prepares for their encounter with Liverpool, scheduled for Sunday at 4:30 PM. As Arteta explained, the guard of honour is a mark of respect and recognition for Liverpool, who have had a wonderful season so far.
Reflections on Progress and Coaching
Arteta was proud of Arsenal’s general progress, especially in European competitions. He wanted to make sure to recognize their lagging performance on the field of play in their league. The coach’s thoughts and process here are a microcosm of the macro level context during his time there. Since joining Arsenal, he has overseen a gradual improvement in points accumulation:
- 2019/20: 56 points
- 2020/21: 61 points
- 2021/22: 69 points
- 2022/23: 84 points
- 2023/24: 89 points
Though these stats paint a pretty picture of an obvious forward movement, the cumulative adds much more context including questions about reliability and coming through in the clutch.
Arteta has paid tribute to his coaching staff for their work, calling the development process “fascinating” and “really good.” This acknowledgment reflects his belief in the team’s potential and their collective journey towards regaining a competitive edge in the league.
“They deserve that. They’ve been the better team, the most consistent. What Arne and the coaching staff have done is fascinating, it’s been really good.” – Mikel Arteta
Looking Ahead
Even as Arsenal try to finish the season on a high note, Arteta is cultivating a desire to improve their game. He reiterated, “It’s not about the winning probability or what you merit; it’s actually making it happen and making it count.”
With three games left to play, the challenge for Arsenal is clear: they must capitalize on their remaining opportunities to improve their standing and regain momentum heading into next season.
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