ARTETA MAKES BIG BUSINESS DEMANDS

BANGING THE TABLE FOR BIG PLAYERS AND BIG TROPHIES

The final pre-game presser of the season dropped, and there were some tasty bits in there, especially for the transfer tweakers out there. The most potent comment came when Arteta was asked about Rodrygo.

“I wouldn’t like to name a player, but the biggest thing is that, and using the word pride, we have brought the club into a position, into a place that next season you have to win a major trophy. That means that everybody believes that we have the level, that we have shown the consistency, and we are an elite team in this country and in Europe. And if you don't do that, then what is going to happen? For me, that is the biggest statement — that Arsenal is there.”

“If you want to win major trophies, you have to be the best in the market. The teams that win have the best players — always — at this level.”

I have no idea whether Arsenal are going to move on the Brazilian winger, but what is absolutely clear is Arteta is making big demands of the club this summer. He used his weight to push for Andrea Berta to take the role because he knows he’s a big dog dealer kinda guy. Now he’s banging the table for players of Rodrygo’s ilk.

Hard not to like this type of carry-on, especially this line:

“You have to win a major trophy.”

I wrote on Sunday that some of his reframing of this season has verged on sounding a bit Wenger-ish. The world is against him, the luck isn’t right, the underlying data makes us champions. All of it can be true — but that sort of victimhood doesn’t move the needle. I like that he’s now saying what the whole base is thinking… it’s time to get it right all at once.