The Gunners boss insists that the club can achieve its main goals this summer, even without the appeal of European football.
Mikel Arteta is convinced that the best players in the world will still want to play for Arsenal, even if they do not qualify for Europe next season.
Sunday’s loss in the North London derby at the Spurs has left the Gunners on the verge of missing European football next season for the first time in 25 years.
Arteta’s team now sits four points below Sheffield United’s seventh place with just nine points to play, and with Liverpool on the way on Wednesday night, Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for Europe through the Premier League. They could end before the weekend if they lose to The Champions and the Blades win in Leicester 24 hours later.
There is still a route to the Europa League through the FA Cup, but with Arsenal facing Manchester City in the semi-final at Wembley on Saturday, that also seems like an unlikely option.
It has sparked fans’ concern that the club will not be able to land its main goals, like Atlético Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, in the transfer window, but Arteta insists that this is not the case.
“Yes,” he said, when asked if Arsenal could still attract the best players. “Because we have an incredible story, an incredible structure, in a beautiful city and a style of play that attracts players. I’m telling you now because when I’m closer to the market when I talk to people, many players want to play for Arsenal. “
Next season will be Arsenal’s fourth without Champions League football and financially their absence from Europe’s elite club competition is taking a heavy toll.
Arteta says he still sees Arsenal as a Champions League club and that he “doesn’t expect” players to be sold this summer if they lose Europe, although he added: “In football anything is possible.”
The Gunners host Liverpool on Wednesday night before facing Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinal on Saturday. They then round out their campaign with games against Aston Villa and Watford next week.
Arteta says his only focus right now is to do what he can with the players he has available to make sure his team ends the season as well as possible. Only then will your focus change to the transfer window.
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“The first thing I have to do is do my job to the best of my ability, improve this team and the players individually as much as possible and make the most of it,” the Spaniard said.
“So what we have to do at the end of the season is see the direction we want to take, agree on the ambition of the football club and realize that where we are, the demands will be enormous.”
“No matter what we do, that will never change because it is related to our history and our success, and moving from there.”
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