Mikel Arteta insists he has no regrets over Arsenal’s campaign despite another season without silverware, emphasizing his pride in the team’s efforts and their ambition to finish as the “best of the rest” in the Premier League.
The Gunners, who host third-placed Newcastle United on Sunday, have been Liverpool’s closest title challengers for much of the season. However, their form has dipped in recent weeks, with just one win in their last six league matches—a slump that coincided with their Champions League semi-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain. A Newcastle victory at the Emirates would see them overtake Arsenal into second place with just one game remaining. Nevertheless, both clubs are almost certain to secure Champions League qualification, with the top five now guaranteed entry into next season’s elite competition.
Arteta, whose side finished as runners-up to Manchester City in each of the last two seasons, praised his squad for their resilience amid injury setbacks and a grueling schedule.
“You probably have regrets in your life, and in professional life too, when you feel you haven’t done your best,” the Arsenal boss admitted. “But I can guarantee—and give you my word—that we have all tried our absolute maximum. If you ask whether we wanted a different outcome, especially given how close we’ve come again, the answer is ‘yes.’”
He continued: “That doesn’t take away from the incredible th ings this team has achieved, considering the context we’ve played in, the opposition we’ve faced, and the circumstances we’ve dealt with. It’s impossible to downplay what these players have done.
Arteta is bracing for a stern challenge from an in-form Newcastle side, who have already beaten Arsenal three times this season—once in the league and twice in the League Cup semi-finals.
With the title race over, Arteta stressed the importance of finishing as high as possible.
“You always have to push to be the best version of yourself,” he said. “The dream of winning the Premier League is gone this season, so now we focus on being the best of the rest. We have to use that pain to come back stronger.
He added: “This is our chance to secure Champions League football officially, to strengthen our grip on second place, and—in a way—to thank our incredible supporters for standing by us throughout this amazing journey. Arteta confirmed that a late decision will be made on Kai Havertz’s availability after the German forward missed nearly three months with injury.
“We’ll assess him on Saturday and see if he’s ready to be involved,” he said. While Arsenal’s wait for a major trophy continues, Arteta remains bullish about the progress made under his leadership. The focus now shifts to ending the season on a high note and laying the groundwork for an even stronger challenge next year.
“We’ve shown we can compete at the highest level,” Arteta said. “Now it’s about taking that final step.
