Arsenal
Image credit: Getty Images
Mikel Arteta has spoken candidly about the relentless pressure to deliver silverware at Arsenal, drawing parallels to Ange Postecoglou’s bold declaration to win trophies at Nottingham Forest.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates, the Arsenal manager stressed that ambition has driven him since the day he took charge in 2019, while acknowledging the unforgiving nature of modern football.
Postecoglou, unveiled this week as Forest’s new head coach after his departure from Tottenham Hotspur last summer, made headlines with a clear statement of intent. “I want to win trophies, that’s what I’ve done my whole career and that’s what I’ll do here,” the Australian said.
Known for his attacking philosophy and quick success at clubs such as Celtic and Yokohama F. Marinos, the 59-year-old even joked that he may have to fast-track his winning mentality at Forest in order to keep his job.
READ MORE: Former Arsenal man favourite to land top Brighton job
Asked whether he shares a similar burden to end Arsenal’s own trophy drought, their last major honour being the 2020 FA Cup, Arteta was unequivocal. “It’s my ambition. The pressure is ambition, for sure. Since the day I stepped into this football club,” he said.
AMikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta (Image credit: Getty Images)
He linked his view to Postecoglou’s comments, adding: “At the end he won and then he didn’t continue at Spurs. So the answer is clear. If you don’t win enough football matches, you are out in this industry, that’s for sure. How many, that varies from one place to another.”
Despite his warning, Arteta was generous in his assessment of his opposite number, describing Postecoglou as a “joy” to watch and learn from. “As a character, as a person, what he transmits, what he brings to football, it’s a joy to watch the team and learn from it. Very welcome to having him back,” he added.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE NOW ARSENAL WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Saturday’s fixture will mark Postecoglou’s Premier League return after his turbulent but memorable spell at Spurs, where he guided the club to Europa League glory in May but was dismissed shortly afterwards amid inconsistent domestic form. He now inherits a Forest side struggling in the relegation zone under former boss Nuno Espirito Santo and will be tasked with stabilising the club while implementing his possession-based, high-pressing system.
Arsenal, meanwhile, enter the match under mounting scrutiny. Arteta’s side sit third in the table, three points behind leaders Liverpool, but pressure is building after the defeat to the Reds. With the club’s transfer spending under his tenure nearing £930 million, expectations are at an all-time high for the Gunners to finally end their 21-year wait for a Premier League title.
For Arteta, the challenge is clear: ambition fuels the job, but only trophies will silence the noise.
NEXT ARTICLE: Four Arsenal first-team players return to training ahead of Nottingham Forest clash