Mikel Arteta shares true feelings on Liverpool's Premier League title celebrations

Mikel Arteta shares true feelings on Liverpool's Premier League title celebrations

Mikel Arteta was hurt that Liverpool became deserved Premier League champions instead of Arsenal but he insists it will not serve as added motivation next season

Mikel Arteta is still dreaming of Champions League glory. (Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images )

Mikel Arteta said it hurt him “big time” to watch Liverpool’s celebrations last weekend but the Arsenal manager insists seeing Arne Slot’s men seal the title will not give him any additional motivation next season.

The Gunners can take a huge step towards confirming a third consecutive second-place finish if they beat Bournemouth at the Emirates on Saturday evening.

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And while they are still dreaming of Champions League glory, Arteta admits witnessing Liverpool become “deserved” champions has stung.

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He observed a “little bit” of their party at Anfield on TV before turning his attention elsewhere. And Arteta admitted: “It was in my tummy, yeah. I understand that it's a team that is being more consistent and it has a lot of the ingredients that you need to win it, but it's very painful, yeah.

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“My motivations are much more focused in other aspects than that one but it hurts to watch it, that's for sure. They've done it in a manner, in a way, that has given no chance to the others. You have to congratulate that as well and you have to accept that there are reasons why you haven't been able to achieve it and try to improve.”

Still, Arteta felt the need to point out that their comparatively light injury list has benefited Slot greatly even when the protracted speculation around Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah’s future could have served as a distraction. “The good thing is that they had them on the pitch all the time, which is something very positive,” he added.

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And that is something he feels Arsenal will require next season to bring a first league title in 22 years to north London.

The Gunners have had a significant list of absentees for much of the campaign and Arteta stressed: “I'm not going to give you the title, but you have a much better chance (if players are fit).”

Thomas Partey watched on from the stands on Tuesday night (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Getty Images )

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Those injuries continue to affect the squad now and Arteta was reminded of that after the 1-0 first-leg defeat to PSG when he came into the dressing room and saw seven absent stars sitting together. “That could have been a starting line up and we don’t have them and we haven’t for months,” he added.

He is expected to make some changes today with holding midfielder Thomas Partey set to return having missed the first PSG game owing to suspension. “He is very important for us as a starter and is the player who has played most minutes in that position,” Arteta said.

“For the biggest game of the season we didn’t have him but I thought Declan (Rice) did a great job playing in there and we have other qualities in midfield so more options. Let’s see how everybody is – we still have a few niggles and issues with a few players. We will assess the squad and we will decide.”

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