Mikel Arteta bristled at suggestions his attacking players are currently a match for the most potent forwards in Europe.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has told his title-chasing stars they need to win silverware to be considered among the world’s best players.
Arsenal will face West Ham next in Premier League on Sunday. They are eyeing to win the league title since 2004.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard have been pillars for Arsenal this season.
But the Spaniard bristled at suggestions his attacking players are currently a match for the most potent forwards in Europe.
“No, you have to win a lot,” he replied when it was put to him that some of this squad are the equals of some of their peers.
“They know that, they know to be at that level they have to win. And after winning you have to win again.
“After winning again, you have to win again and again and again. That’s it. That’s what these guys have been doing for such a long time.”
Arteta won two Premier League titles while working as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City and has led Arsenal to an FA Cup success.
The Spaniard was also key to Rangers winning the Scottish Premiership in 2003, scoring a late penalty on the final day of the season to take the title on goal difference.
“When it went in, great,” he said when asked how it felt.
“Before that I didn’t really know what was happening. I just had the chance to take it and it went well. But that’s the risks and rewards when you make big decisions in important moments and that is the most beautiful thing in a football club to have the opportunity actually to win things.
“That should bring excitement, that has to bring you alive because it’s there and ‘now I want it’. And it’s now how much you want it.
Asked if his Arsenal players will show the same coolness in the title race this season, he added: “They are much better than me.
“I am convinced they would shoot better. Because I have full trust in them and they have given me every reason to believe that they are ready to do that and that when an opportunity comes they are going to take it.”
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