After being labelled the Premier League’s corner kings, Mikel Arteta has challenged his side to be the kings of many more things as we attempt to clinch our crowning glory – another league title.
Both goals in our 2-0 win against Manchester United came from corner kicks, taking our tally to 22 in the top-flight since the start of last season, which is five more than any other side across Europe’s top five leagues.
Because of that, much attention has been brought to our set-piece prowess, but Mikel isn’t satisfied with settling for adulation on one single facet of our play – he is focusing on improving as many aspects as possible on and off the pitch to try and land our first championship since 2004.
“We want to be the kings of everything,” he said in his press conference before taking on Fulham on Sunday. “At set pieces – the best in the world. At the high press – the best in the world. Attacking open spaces – the best in the world. We want the best atmosphere in the stadium, and be the best at everything.
“Before it was about we didn’t score enough, we were so defensive in our mentality, we were not physical enough and could not challenge the top teams and going 22, 17, 20 years without winning away from home in big matches. Now we want to be the best at everything, we want to have the best academy, the best individual development for players, recruit the best players and have the best coaches. That’s the aim.
“Success at the end of the day is we win what we want to win. If that allows you to win a game, great, and another game, great but it’s a lot of elements.”
Every word from Mikel Arteta’s pre-Fulham presser
Pundits and experts have been lauding the ability of Declan Rice and Bulayo Saka to deliver dangerous set-pieces in the box and our attackers’ movement to beat their marker and find the net with such regularity.
But despite being the best in Europe at converting these chances, MIkel is also striving for us to make further gains in this area and excitingly feels there is so much more to come from his youthful side as they continue to learn and improve as each month passes.
On the praise we’ve received, the boss added: “We take it as a compliment and fuel to be better because we are not perfect, even in that department or defending set pieces. We conceded three chances [vs Man Utd], the three of them coming from that kind of situation. There is a lot to improve and the margins are always there for us to explore and try to get better.
“Whatever we do, I repeat myself, is not good enough. We can still improve a lot in that sense. But last year, we were the team in the history of this club that scored the most goals. We want more, we have more margins, we can do things better. With the defence, exactly the same thing. With the environment, the same thing. Everything – we’re going to try to improve it.”
