Mikel Arteta backed to bring trophies to Arsenal by iconic Gunners defender despite agonising near-misses in Champions League and Premier League this season

Thomas Vermaelen believes Arsenal are close to winning trophies again under Mikel Arteta. Despite falling short in the Premier League and Champions League this season, Vermaelen emphasised the progress the team has made and the quality of the squad. He feels next season Arsenal will be challenging once more for the game's biggest trophies.

Arsenal's season started strongly, with title aspirations boosted by impressive Champions League performances, including a mature showing against Real Madrid. However, their Premier League form dipped and they were eventually knocked out of the Champions League. Vermaelen's comments come amidst a debate about whether Arsenal need to win a trophy to validate Arteta's project, following a lengthy spell without major silverware beyond the FA Cup.

Vermaelen told Sky Sports: "He's so close to winning trophies and that doesn't mean as an Arsenal fan or the team itself would be very disappointed how he went towards the end of the season because they want to lift trophies, especially after last season already where we were very close on beating Manchester City and now City dropping. I expected Arsenal to be there. Unfortunately, it wasn't. That doesn't mean everything is going wrong and the job the players and the manager and the staff are doing is not going well.

"So I still strongly believe in that group and in the club itself that again next year it could be challenging again. I feel like Arsenal is now year in year out challenging for trophies and that's where you want to be and then it's a matter of just taking it over the line and and that's the next step that Arsenal hopefully can make very soon."

Arsenal will be looking to strengthen their squad in the summer transfer window, with the club likely to prioritise a striker to add firepower to their attack. The Gunners will also be aiming to build on their Champions League form and mount another title challenge in the next Premier League season.