Arsenal bizarrely told winning the Premier League or Champions League ‘isn’t necessary’ despite five-year trophy drought as former Gunners star hails ‘unbelievable’ Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta enjoyed a bright start to his spell as Gunners boss, winning the FA Cup a matter of months after inheriting managerial reins at Emirates Stadium in December 2019. He also savoured Community Shield success in 2020, before landing the same piece of silverware in 2023.

The biggest of prizes have, however, proved elusive. Arsenal have come close in back-to-back Premier League title bids, while sitting second in the table this term, and are also into the Champions League quarter-finals. Positive progress is being made without tangible reward to show for it.

Former Arsenal midfielder Anders Limpar considers that to be a good thing, with the Swede – speaking in association with the brands reviewed and ranked by experts at casino.online – telling GOAL when asked if Arteta needs to land another top honour on the back of a few near misses: “I’m not sure that he needs the title. He is an unbelievable manager, one of the best in the world. He has proved it.

“When it comes to titles, of course as an Arsenal fan that would be unreal to win the Champions League or the Premier League, but it’s not necessary. Over the last few years we have been so close, so everybody is looking at Arsenal and thinking we have to win. Of course we have to win something, the FA Cup or League Cup.

“To go for the Champions League or a Premier League title, that’s so hard to win. In my opinion, we don’t need to win the two big titles over the next year or two, we should be up there among the best.”

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Arsenal have 10 Premier League games to take in this season, as they look to secure a third successive runners-up finish, but have not savoured domestic dominance since the fabled ‘Invincibles’ of 2003-04. In the Champions League, the Gunners face the biggest of European tests against holders Real Madrid.