'Still painful' - Mikel Arteta admits he's still hurting after missing out on Premier League title to Man City after 'almost perfect' season

Following the end of the 2023-24 Premier League season last month, Arteta spoke of his ongoing dismay at failing to end a 20-year wait for the title when the campaign felt close to perfect.

Arsenal recorded 89 points, their best tally since getting 90 during the 2003-04 'Invincibles' campaign, and pushed Manchester City until the last last game of the season. It marked a second successive second place finish behind Pep Guardiola's side, but the race was much closer than 12 months earlier.

"It was a really exciting season, right up to the last minutes of the last day, especially when we were fighting for the Premier League," Arteta told CNN. So, I think we should be very proud of what we've done throughout the season – both in European competition and the Premier League. But, as well, the feeling of being disappointed and not having the Premier League in our hands, it is painful still.

"I'm a winner and it takes me a while when I don't reach the dreams. I think we have built so much excitement and belief around our fans, around our players and the club, that we really wanted to deliver that moment to the team. I think they deserve it, but you have to congratulate Manchester City – at the end, after 38 games, they had two points more than us and they are the winners.

"Not really [any regrets]. You look at moments in the season, but the season has been almost perfect to make the amount of points we did – both us and City, in this competitive league. We cannot compare this league to what happened five years ago, those numbers won’t happen. The level of the league is a different stage now. Again, now, recharge, try to be stronger, think where the margins are and go again next season."

Many of Arsenal's squad will be away on international duty at Euro 2024, the Copa Amercia or Olympics this summer. But Arteta will be hard at work planning the club's fresh assault, with pre-season for those not away at major tournaments to begin in July. The available squad will jet off to the United States for friendlies against Manchester United and Liverpool on July 27 and 31 respectively. For the first time in a couple of years, the Gunners will not be spending time at Adidas HQ in Germany.