Mikel Arteta 'unsatisfied and upset' about Arsenal season

Mikel Arteta has expressed his frustration after Arsenal beat Newcastle United 1-0 on Sunday and finished another season without any silverware.

The Arsenal manager gave an emotional speech as he addressed fans at the Emirates Stadium in their final home match of the season, saying he is “unsatisfied and upset” for not winning a major trophy yet again in five consecutive seasons under his watch.

Sunday’s win against Newcastle only guarantees Champions League football for next season, but the club still lags behind in any major trophy – the last won major trophy was the FA Cup in 2020.

The Gunners were comfortably beaten to the Premier League title by a more consistent Liverpool side under new Dutch manager Arne Slot.

To make matters worse, Arteta’s side were knocked out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup in the semi-finals, and went out of the FA Cup in the third round.

Mikel Arteta is very frustrated after failing to win a major silverware in five seasons(Image credit: Getty Images)

Talking to reporters, Arteta said he is ready to “give his life” to deliver a trophy for Arsenal.

“Liverpool have a trophy – we don’t have a trophy,” Arteta, who has delivered one FA Cup since he was appointed head coach in December 2019, said in his media conference.

“We are unsatisfied and upset. But I think we are on the right trajectory.

“What I can promise is that I will do my very best [to win a trophy] and I will give my life, and get every drop of everybody here to squeeze it and get the best out of them.”

Asked whether he thought he would continue to receive backing from the fans, Arteta added: “That’s what I feel, but they want more, they have expectations. We need to believe we are going to do it together.”

Some fans had left the stadium when Arteta stepped on to the pitch minutes after the final whistle to thank supporters for their backing this season.

“We had a dream, it was to be here or in a week’s time and bring the big trophies to you guys and we couldn’t do it for many circumstances,” he said.

“We need to make sure that chasing a dream doesn’t get blurry and make sure we chase the dream with positivity and enthusiasm for next season.

“We have to start creating our own history here in this stadium and we started this season. There is much more to come and it won’t be easy. These players have the talent.

“We need to rest and finish at Southampton and then go on holiday. Any other club in this position would finish in a position that we cannot even dream of.”

Arteta and Arsenal have endured yet another season where they flattered to deceive. They will secure a third successive second-placed finish in the Premier League if they avoid defeat at already-relegated Southampton on the final day of the season next Sunday.