Mikel Arteta has warned Arsenal the competitors shall be even more durable in the event that they hope to mount one other Premier League title problem subsequent season.
Wolves go to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday for a fixture that at one stage appeared like it might mark Arsenal’s coronation as champions for the primary time in 19 years.
Instead they go into their remaining recreation eight factors adrift of champions Manchester City, the identical margin that Arteta’s aspect led by in early April, with their brave title tilt having lastly been ended by defeat to Nottingham Forest final Saturday.
Arsenal’s problem has wilted since they threw away a 2-0 lead towards Liverpool at Anfield on Easter Sunday, adopted by successive attracts towards West Ham and Southampton earlier than City lastly took management of the race with a thumping 4-1 win towards the Gunners on the Etihad.
Arteta referred to as for his gamers to finish a nonetheless memorable season on a excessive towards Wolves, however pointed to what’s prone to be an much more intense battle subsequent marketing campaign if the membership are to lastly finish a two-decade wait to be champions.
“The competition is going to be even harder next season,” mentioned Arteta. “In my opinion it’s been the hardest this season in 22 years that I’ve been in this league.
“In order to (compete) we have a really promising plan, we have to reflect a little bit, take a step back, make sure this is the right one and go again with more determination and hunger in the tummies to do even better.
“Now is about finishing the season in style and providing a great performance and a victory in front of our people to show our gratitude.
“(We) received a lot of incredible energy they have given us throughout the season, and (we will) start to build for next season. We have to wrap it up in the best possible way. It’s been some journey, full of emotions.
“Looking with a bit of perspective, there’s a lot of things not only on the field that have happened at the club that deserve a lot of credit for a lot of people.
“We have to nail everything that we do, we have to seek excellence in everything that we touch and we participate in that’s going to have a big impact at the club.”
Arsenal’s late collapse was partially precipitated by the lack of defender William Saliba to harm in March, with the deputising Rob Holding criticised for failing to match the 22-year-old’s imperious kind throughout the season.
Arteta remained hopeful that the again harm the defender picked up in the course of the staff’s Europa League exit to Sporting Lisbon won’t stretch into subsequent season and that he shall be able to resume coaching after the summer time.
There can also be optimism that Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has performed solely 21 occasions within the league because of harm, shall be match to participate in pre-season.
Arteta mentioned of Saliba: “He’s evolving the right way, the last few weeks have been much more positive than the previous two months.
“We wanted to protect him, it’s an injury that needed some care and attention. We’ve been pretty conservative to give him the best possible chance to have a good pre-season and to go again next season.
“Tomiyasu will be (back) around pre-season like Willy, they’ll be in a good place. They’ve been working so hard the boys, it’s been a really difficult year for (Tomiyasu) with some issues that he’s had.
“He’s a tremendous person, a top professional, we just want him to be available because when he is he’s really helpful for the team.”