Mikel Arteta has grand plans beyond just qualifying for the Champions League next season. The Arsenal boss has overseen a remarkable transition this season in why his side already have more points in 31 games than they did in the entirety of last term.
It has put them on the brink of confirming their place in the competition already. Should they beat Southampton on Friday night they will be back amongst Europe's elite next season. In fact, the 74 points they currently have would have been enough to qualify at the top in the last four years too.
That being said, there are bigger plans in place for the rest of this season with the title very much still on the cards despite back-to-back draws. The Gunners are four points ahead of Manchester City in the table and could be seven ahead by the time the two sides meet at the Etihad Stadium next week.
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It is proof of just how much has changed in nearly a year having missed out on a top-four finish last season following a late slump. Arteta isn't just happy to be back in the mix with the best of the continent's best though.
Speaking to talkSPORT, presenter and Arsenal fan Laura Woods revealed an anecdote involving Arteta that set their true ambitions straight. “I went to the diamond club last night,” she said. “At the Emirates, they have this event for the diamond club and the box holders. It’s like an annual event.
"Mikel Arteta was there – before you go and do the event with the diamond club members, you get to sit down and have like a private dinner with everybody. I got to sit next to Mikel Arteta. It was very cool. Exceptional [table manners from Arteta]. He was wonderful and very personable.
"I said ‘have you got an eye on the Champions League yet? Or do you have to wait until you know it’s there and then start preparing?’ He was like ‘no, no, no. We are thinking about it right now. We don’t just want to be a part of the Champions League. We don’t want to make up the numbers. We want them to properly compete’.”
Given the levels of performance in the league this season and also the European disappointment that came with being edged out by Sporting CP in the Europa League last-16 on penalties, Arteta's ambitions are far from outlandish. The young team at his disposal, chance to make big additions in the summer and continued development of players all bodes well.
It will, for example, be the first time that Bukayo Saka has played in the Champions League. The same can be said for Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Leandro Trossard, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe. It could be said that this is a disadvantage heading into the tournament against seasoned professionals in the toughest environment but given the rise of this squad and the duck-to-water approach for most of them, it is just another chance to prove themselves instead.
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