Mikel Arteta has shed light on Arsenal‘s direction for the next few years, following his recent meeting with the club’s owners in the United States.
Speaking ahead of the match against Nottingham Forest, the Arsenal boss provided insights into both the club’s long-term strategies and immediate objectives. He also discussed the departure of Edu, the challenges of managing heightened expectations, and why he remains optimistic about the team’s prospects despite a difficult start to the season.
The meeting with Arsenal‘s owners focused on evaluating decisions made in the recent past and their outcomes. “We make a lot of decisions and understand and evaluate how those decisions were made, what was the process behind it, have they worked, yes or no?” Arteta explained. “For some of them, it’s still too early because in football there is this smile [curve on a graph] — the time to measure impact can fluctuate.”
Arteta described the owners as incredibly supportive, emphasising that they trust him to manage the challenges on and off the pitch. “The interactions cannot be any more positive,” he noted, adding that the owners have been engaged not just with him but also with the coaches, staff, and communications team.
In Edu‘s absence, Arteta confirmed that he will play a significant role in selecting the next sporting director. “I’m going to be very much involved in that process because we want to find the right person who can cooperate effectively and elevate the club,” he said, highlighting the need for someone who can take Arsenal “to a different level.”
The owners, while remaining mostly at a distance, still engage closely when necessary. “Sometimes it’s important to put the temperature up a little,” Arteta said, stressing that elite sport requires periods of pressure and evaluation. Right now, though, he indicated that the environment was “very good,” likening it to the relaxed atmosphere of “Mallorca in June.”
Arteta also acknowledged the complications of falling behind Manchester City in the league, a situation exacerbated by off-field issues like Edu‘s departure. Nonetheless, he expressed an interest in seeing how the players and staff react to adversity, suggesting that challenging times provide insight into a team’s character. “It’s a great exercise to look around with your ears open and see how people start to talk and behave,” he said.
Managing expectations has become another major challenge for Arteta. He admitted that while he’s responsible for raising expectations, he cannot control them. “The only thing we’ve done is promote expectations. Manage them, I cannot. I can promote them,” he explained, adding that the club’s ultimate goal is to meet these expectations by winning major trophies. Anything less, Arteta suggested, would inevitably lead to frustration.
Reflecting on last season, he pointed out that expectations were perhaps lower, but the team’s achievements then have shifted perspectives. “Maybe now the expectations are different,” Arteta said, alluding to the strong performances Arsenal delivered against the odds last year.
On the upcoming appointment to replace Edu, Arteta reiterated the importance of finding someone aligned with the club’s vision for the next three years. The focus, he said, is not just on the immediate term but also on planning for the future—12 months, 24 months, and even 36 months down the line. Arteta’s involvement in choosing Edu‘s successor is aimed at ensuring the new sporting director has the capability to improve cooperation across all facets of the club.
Addressing recent on-field performances, Arteta maintained that the squad is determined to improve, pointing to last season as evidence of the team’s growth mentality. He contrasted their response to setbacks from last year with this season, noting that higher expectations have brought added pressure but also a desire to strive for more. “Even if we win and win, they’re going to be willing to do more, and I love that,” Arteta said.