Arsenal: Mikel Arteta hurt 'big time' as Liverpool win Premier League title but insists Gunners can close gap

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·2 May 2025

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta hurt 'big time' as Liverpool win Premier League title but insists Gunners can close gap

Reds were crowned Premier League champions with four games to spare

Mikel Arteta has congratulated Liverpool on their Premier League title win

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed Liverpool winning the Premier League hurt him “big time” and he only watched a “small part” of their title celebrations.

Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions last weekend with four games to spare after beating Tottenham.

Arsenal had been fighting Liverpool for the title, but are now on course to finish second for the third season in a row.

And asked if it hurt missing out to Liverpool, Arteta said: “Yeah, big time.

“It was in my tummy [that it hurt], yeah. I understand that it’s a team that is being more consistent and it has a lot of ingredients that you need to win it, but it’s very painful, yeah.

“I take the opportunity as well to congratulate Liverpool and what they’ve done, the management they’ve done, how consistent they’ve been. I think they fully deserve to win.

“They were the better team, they had so many attributes, they had a consistent squad available. And we’re going to try again. But up to that moment next season, now we’re going to have to finish the season very strong.”

Arteta has told his players to use Liverpool winning the league as fuel for next season, but that cannot be their solve drive.

“It can be part of your motivation, that’s not the biggest part,” he said. “My motivations are much more focused in other aspects than that one, but it hurts to watch it, that’s for sure.”

I take the opportunity as well to congratulate Liverpool and what they’ve done, the management they’ve done, how consistent they’ve been

Mikel Arteta

If Arsenal are to close the gap to Liverpool, Arteta believes they must improve their discipline and keeping players fits.

The Gunners have been hit hard by injuries this season and are, for example, without six players for Saturday’s game with Bournemouth.

Arsenal have also had five red cards this season, the joint most of anyone in the Premier League.

“Play with 11 players, number one. 38 games, if possible,” said Arteta, when asked about key areas to address for next season.

“And the second one, have availability of your best players in the best position that win you games. Ideally, for 38 games in the league.

“If you have those two things, you have a much better chance. I’m not going to give you the title, but you have a much better chance. Without any of those two, you look historically at what happened over the last 100 years. Not one single team has done it.”