Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made it clear that leading the Premier League table is not enough for his side to be remembered among the club’s greatest teams. Speaking ahead of a crucial home clash against reigning champions Liverpool, Arteta said silverware is the only measure that will define whether this Arsenal team leaves a lasting legacy.
The benchmark, he explained, remains the iconic Arsenal side led by Arsene Wenger that won the Premier League title in 2004 without losing a single game. That team, often referred to as the Invincibles, did more than dominate statistically. They turned dominance into trophies and history.
Arsenal head into Thursday’s match against Liverpool with a six-point lead at the top of the table. However, Manchester City and Aston Villa have the opportunity to reduce that gap when they play on Wednesday. Arteta’s squad, which has finished second for the past three seasons, currently has two more points and four more goals after 20 games than Wenger’s title-winning side managed at the same stage.
Despite those comparisons, Arteta dismissed the idea that numbers alone place his team above past greats.
“No because ‘the Invincibles’ won a lot,” Arteta told his pre-match press conference.
“They won consistently, and they created a history and a legacy, and we have to do that.”
Why does Arteta say trophies define Arsenal’s legacy?
Arteta stressed that modern football demands higher standards and smaller margins. While Arsenal’s performances have improved steadily, he believes progress only matters if it results in major honours. Under his leadership, Arsenal’s only major trophy remains the 2020 FA Cup, won early in his tenure.
“There are a lot of stats, but in the last two or three years we have managed more points and more goals than ever before. But at the end, we have to translate that to major trophies,” he added.
“Probably doing what we are doing now would have been enough (in 2004), but now it’s not, and we have to make the margins even bigger.”
Those words reflect the reality of a league where competition is deeper and pressure is relentless. Arsenal’s narrow title misses in recent seasons have reinforced Arteta’s belief that consistency alone does not guarantee success.
Liverpool arrive at the Emirates having already beaten Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield in August, a match billed as an early title showdown. Although the Reds sit 14 points off the top after a challenging second season under Arne Slot, Arteta was quick to dismiss any suggestion of complacency.
He described Liverpool as “a superb side”, underlining the level of focus his team must maintain if they are to stay ahead in the title race.
What else did Arteta say ahead of the Liverpool clash?
Arsenal will still be without defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera, while the club continues to carefully manage Kai Havertz’s workload as he steps up training during recovery from a long-term leg injury.
Arteta also addressed developments beyond Arsenal, expressing sympathy for former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, who was sacked after just 14 months in charge at Old Trafford. Amorim’s dismissal followed reported tensions with senior United officials, despite earlier assurances from co-owner Jim Ratcliffe that he would be given time, using Arteta’s own situation as an example.
Reflecting on that comparison, Arteta spoke candidly about the pressures of management.
“I can only talk about what I have experienced and it’s always sad to see a colleague losing his job, obviously,” said Arteta. “We know where we are and I think you need support from the ownership, from your staff, from players.
“At the end of the day, you need to win a lot of football matches if you want to stay in the job, and that’s the reality and the nature of our job.”
By Yockshard Enyendi