Mikel Arteta’s message to Tottenham after reaching Europa League final vs Man Utd speaks volume
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he remains completely unfazed by the possibility of arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur ending their long-standing trophy drought later this month. Spurs are set to face Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21, and victory would mark their first piece of silverware in over a decade.
Despite Tottenham’s struggles throughout an inconsistent Premier League campaign, Ange Postecoglou’s side have the chance to finish the season on a high with European glory. Spurs haven’t lifted a trophy since their League Cup triumph over Chelsea back in 2008. Their last taste of success on the continental stage dates all the way back to 1984, when they won the UEFA Cup.
When asked whether he was concerned about the prospect of Spurs finally ending their trophyless run, Arteta brushed off the notion with a calm and focused response. “For me, I have enough looking at my own garden,” the Arsenal boss said, signaling that his focus remains solely on his own team and their journey rather than being distracted by what’s happening elsewhere—especially at their north London rivals.
Arteta’s comments came shortly after Arsenal’s Champions League dreams were dashed following their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final second leg. It confirmed that the Gunners will once again end the season without a trophy, a disappointing conclusion to what had been a promising European campaign.
The Arsenal manager also took a moment to praise Arne Slot, who has had a sensational debut season in charge of Liverpool after succeeding Jurgen Klopp. Slot led the Merseyside club to the Premier League title in his first season at Anfield, a feat Arteta applauded.
“What Arne did was very intelligent,” Arteta explained. “He inherited a strong foundation – a team that’s been competing at the highest level and winning trophies consistently over the last decade. That kind of platform is not easy to come by.”
Arteta continued to commend Slot’s managerial approach, saying, “He added his own values while preserving the successful elements already in place. You can clearly see his influence in many aspects of their game, and those adjustments have been extremely effective.”
He further highlighted the importance of key players delivering under pressure, emphasizing, “The players who needed to step up did so repeatedly. When you’re aiming to win major trophies, that’s absolutely essential.”
As Arsenal look ahead to the next campaign with hopes of rebuilding and challenging once again, Arteta appears determined to remain focused on internal improvements rather than being distracted by the success—or failure—of their rivals.