Arsenal FC v AS Monaco - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta has been warned that three teams from across Europe are ‘better’ than his Arsenal side.
The Gunners have been one of the best teams in Europe in recent seasons, amassing 84 points in the Premier League in 2022-23 and 89 points last term.
Despite their impressive points tally, Arsenal are still searching for their first Premier League trophy since 2004, denied the title by Arteta’s former club Manchester City.
A record-extending fifth title looks beyond Man City who have suffered a shocking run of form under Pep Guardiola, but that does not mean winning the title will be any easier for Arsenal.
While City have dropped off, Liverpool have gone the opposite way under Arne Slot, winning 11 of their 14 league games so far this season to open up a healthy gap at the top of the table.
Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea have also gone to another level under new boss Enzo Maresca, only losing twice this season and scoring 35 goals – comfortably the most in the division.
Despite the fierce competition at the top of the table, ex-Arsenal star William Gallas believes his former club should ‘prioritise’ a Premier League title tilt over a Champions League run as winning in Europe will be even harder.
Arsenal FC v AS Monaco - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6
Arsenal were victorious in the Champions League in midweek (Picture: Getty)
Gallas believes at least three teams in Europe’s top club competition are ‘better’ than Arsenal, meaning it is unlikely that Arteta will get his hands on the Champions League trophy any time soon.
The Gunners beat Monaco 3-0 in their last Champions League fixture to climb to third in the revamped group phase with two games remaining.
‘Arsenal should focus on the Premier League,’ Gallas told Prime Casino. ‘In the Champions League there are teams better than Arsenal in the tournament including Liverpool, Barcelona and probably Bayern Munich.
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‘Arsenal have to focus on the Premier League and that should be the priority, not dropping any more points.
‘I think this has to be the season for Arsenal because next year Liverpool will be there again, Chelsea will be up there as will Manchester City and maybe even Manchester United.
‘They have to push themselves to the limit this season.’
Three successive league wins appeared to put Arsenal back on track in the Premier League but the Gunners dropped more points at Fulham last weekend.
Arteta’s side welcome relegation-battlers Everton to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon and the Arsenal manager expects a tough game.
‘They haven’t lost the rules and that fighting spirit, togetherness and love for the club in regards to whatever happens – they are there,’ he said of his former club.
‘That’s not easy and that makes them really special. Hopefully that will help them, and give them stability.
‘The project with the new stadium looks unbelievable as well, so there’s a lot to be excited about for Everton.’
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