Arteta suggests Arsenal need a bigger squad to compete next season: ‘We knew we were super short’ | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has suggested that a bigger squad would help Arsenal to progress in their aim of bringing silverware back to the Emirates.

The Gunners take on new Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday as they aim to consolidate second place in the table for what will be the third season running.

And Arteta admitted that the small size of his Gunners squad, along with the risk of injury to key players, was a factor in their inability to push Liverpool more.

“It’s a lot of factors,” he said.

“We knew from the beginning of the season that our squad was super short, and being super short, we had some players with a high probability of injury, because that’s what they had in the last few seasons.

“We knew that and we cannot do anything about it.”

Runaway leaders Liverpool wrapped up the title with four games still left to play and discussing the differences between Arne Slot’s team and his own, Arteta pointed to the consistency Liverpool have had this campaign.

“That’s a big thing to win trophies,” he said.

“They’ve done that extremely well and they have managed to maintain that consistency, the level of players, a system, a coach, a stadium that has again created an incredible atmosphere consistently for them.

“You need a lot of ingredients to win the Premier League and that’s the difficulty of it. It’s true that this season we never found that consistency because of the issues that we had.

“But I don’t want to use it as an excuse, that’s for sure.”

Arsenal sit four points ahead of Aston Villa in sixth going into the game but having played a game less than the Villains.

With three games left to play and having been knocked out of the Champions League, the Gunners still need points to ensure they confirm their place in the competition for next season.