Arsenal are flying high in the Premier League and Champions League and a clear demand has been made to Mikel Arteta after Diego Simeone's comments
Mark Whiley Sports Reporter and Neil Docking
06:58, 23 Oct 2025
It's all smiles for Mikel Arteta at Arsenal at present
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It's all smiles for Mikel Arteta at Arsenal at present
Arsenal are currently riding high, leading the Premier League and performing strongly in the Champions League. To top it off, one of their big-money summer signings has found his shooting boots again.
Viktor Gyokeres broke a seven-match goalless streak with two quick goals in Arsenal's 4-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Gabriel started the scoring spree with a header just after half-time, followed by Gabriel Martinelli doubling the lead on the 64th minute.
Gyokeres then sealed the victory with the third and fourth goals, leaving Diego Simeone's side stunned. Next on the agenda for Mikel Arteta's team, who are leading the Premier League by three points, is an away match against Crystal Palace.
Here's all the latest news from the Emirates.
Arteta faces fresh trophy expectations
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta knows he has one option this season: He must win a trophy
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta knows he has one option this season: He must win a trophy
Ex-Gunners forward Jeremie Aliadiere has claimed Arteta knows he needs to bring a trophy to the Emirates this season, reports the Mirror.
Despite the Spaniard's success in re-establishing Arsenal as a domestic and international force, he only has one trophy to his name so far, the FA Cup in 2020.
After significant summer investment, which addressed the club's previous lack of squad depth, there are no excuses for Arteta not to win something, ideally the Premier League and/or the Champions League.
Aliadiere, who featured under Arsene Wenger between 2001 and 2007, told WhichBookie: "It's fair to say Mikel Arteta needs to win a trophy this season and I think he knows that himself.
"He's had the backing of everyone at the club for years and they've given him all the tools and the players he needs.
"They've done their side of the deal, now he must deliver his. When you look at the Arsenal squad now, it's probably the best in the Premier League.
"He has had a few years of being so close and finishing second, now he knows what he has to do to go and win it. From what I've seen this season, he is starting to do things differently in terms of rotating the squad and making substitutions to change games.
"I can't see any negatives at the moment and I think this will finally be the season that Arsenal win the Premier League."
Simeone's assessment speaks volumes
Diego Simeone speaks to the media in a post match press conference following the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid.
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Diego Simeone has aimed a dig at Liverpool that Arsenal fans will love(Image: Justin Setterfield - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Arsenal's prospects of finally breaking their silverware drought this campaign look increasingly bright, judging by Diego Simeone's glowing evaluation.
The Atletico Madrid boss delivered a telling 10-word assessment of the Gunners after watching his side get comprehensively outplayed.
Despite recently facing Liverpool and Real Madrid, Simeone declared of Arsenal: "They are the best team we have faced this season."
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He continued: "They compete so well, their players run and run, and they have quality all over the pitch. They deserved to win today and I want to congratulate them.
"It is a learning curve. We just need to keep improving. I thought we competed really well to begin with. From 60 minutes they were the better team and deserved to win."
Simeone's subtle dig at Liverpool says it all - if Arsenal are the new best team in the country, they must prove it.