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Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has blasted Mikel Arteta for his comments during Arsenal pre-season training. He believes that the manager talking about adding players and needing a bigger squad shows signs that he is making up excuses.
Speaking on ESPN FC, Nicol stated that he wants Arteta to be talking about going for the title and sending a positive message across. He does not want the Gunners manager to be making excuses and said (via Mirror):
“I don’t want to listen to Arsenal and Arteta talking about what we need to do, ‘We need to improve positions and we need a bigger squad’… I don’t want to hear that at this time of the year! I want to hear some positives, ‘We’re going to win the title! We think we’ve got enough to win the title, we just have to get better, we have to take advantage whenever we get ourselves [in a good position]’.”
Nicol added:
“I don’t want to listen to ‘We need more cover in more positions’... shut up, please! How’s about you go, ‘You know what? I think we can do it this year! We’ve got the ability and the players to win this’, that’s what I want to hear. I don’t want to hear excuses. Once you start playing the games there will be plenty of time to make excuses. I don’t want to hear it before a ball is kicked. Come on!”
The Gunners have signed David Raya and Tommy Setford this summer. The Athletic have reported that they have a deal in place to sign to sign centre-back Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.
What did Mikel Arteta say about Arsenal's window?
Mikel Arteta admitted that he needs a bigger squad to win the Premier League title. The Spanish tactician claimed that they needed to sign more players and said in a presser:
“Perfection in this league requires different standards. To relate that word to winning the Premier League then that’s what we have to do. We know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources, especially in terms of numbers where we are very short.”
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons. They were on top of the table for over 90% of the 2022/23 season.
