Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has cheekily suggested that his team should be considered back-to-back Premier League champions—if titles were awarded based on total points earned over the past two seasons.
Speaking ahead of a crucial week for the Gunners, Arteta highlighted that Arsenal’s points tallies in the last two seasons surpassed Liverpool’s current total—despite the Reds having already clinched this year’s title.
“Winning trophies is about being in the right place at the right moment,” said the 43-year-old with a smile. “Liverpool have won the title with fewer points than we had in the last two seasons. Based on that, we’ve got two Premier League titles,” he joked.
Last season, Arsenal finished with 89 points—five more than Liverpool’s current total of 84, with three games remaining. In 2022-23, they ended on 84 points, still ahead of Liverpool’s tally when the Merseyside club sealed the title with four games to spare in April.
Despite the humor, Arteta remains focused on the road ahead. Arsenal currently sit second in the league, 15 points behind Liverpool and just three ahead of third-placed Manchester City after a disappointing loss to Bournemouth last weekend.
Now, all eyes are on Europe. Arsenal face a season-defining clash on Wednesday night as they attempt to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League semi-final.
“Hopefully we’ll be in the right place at the right time in Paris and earn that right to be in the final,” Arteta added.
The Gunners haven’t lifted major silverware since the FA Cup in 2020—Arteta’s first season in charge. However, reaching the Champions League semi-final for the first time since 2009 marks clear progress under the Spaniard.
Inter Milan await the winner of the Arsenal vs PSG tie in the Champions League final, after a dramatic 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona in one of the most thrilling semi-finals in recent memory.
Can Arsenal defy the odds and reach their first Champions League final since 2006? All will be decided under the lights in Paris.
