Nacho Monreal declares Arteta has transformed Arsenal – but the Champions League is now non-negotiable
Nacho Monreal has delivered a scintillating verdict on Arsenal’s transformation under Mikel Arteta, insisting the Gunners have finally abandoned their perennial near-man status and must now focus on winning Europe. In an exclusive interview, the former Arsenal defender revealed how Arteta’s leadership has revolutionized the club’s mentality after years of disappointment, culminating in a Premier League title that ended a 22-year drought.
Arsenal reached the pinnacle of English football last season, finishing seven points ahead of Manchester City and eventually lifting the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park after a 2–1 victory over Crystal Palace. The win not only ended a six-year silverware drought, but also silenced the critics who had mocked Arsenal’s three consecutive second-place finishes. Monreal, who shared the dressing room with Arteta for more than three years, was eloquent in his praise: “Mikel Arteta, when he was a footballer he was a leader. And now as a manager, he remains the same leader of men. Basically because people respect him,” Monreal said.
Monreal highlighted what sets Arteta apart from the rest. “In my opinion and from what I have heard from teammates, the most important thing about Mikel Arteta is that what he says is going to happen in the game, happens,” he explained. “In my opinion, that makes the difference between a top manager and an average manager. The training is also really enjoyable. He is training with the ball all the time. He is a top leader.”
Reflecting on Arsenal’s transformation from ans-rans to champions, Monreal pointed to a radical change in mentality as the main factor. “In my opinion, what Mikel has changed is the mentality. You look at Arsenal and you see a winning team. I remember my last few years at the club, we were good, we competed, but in the end we always missed the games that mattered. But now if you look at Arsenal six years later, the team, the club has improved a lot. He has brought in top players, but in my opinion, the mentality, how competitive they are, that’s the difference. They always Wanting to win and win and win is the big difference between the Arsenal of a few years ago and the Arsenal of today.”
Despite the fame of the Premier League, disappointments continued in the cup competitions. Arsenal faltered against Manchester City in the EFL Cup as Nico O’Reilly’s two goals ensured City’s victory at Wembley. In the Champions League final, there was heartbreak when Gabriel’s missed penalty gave Paris Saint-Germain the European crown, ending Arsenal’s wait for continental success.
Monreal was clear about what lies ahead for the north London giants. “Arsenal are the best team in the Premier League at the moment. Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, they have changed their managers. So nobody knows how it will be for them. Arsenal are in a good position. Last season they won the Premier League, but the last three seasons before that they finished second. They are very, very, very consistent. They won the Premier League. That’s what they wanted to win. But now once you’ve got the Premier League, now your next step is the Champions League. They In the final, they lost against PSG, but they are on the right track and want to do what they could not do before, win the Champions League.
As Arsenal prepare for a new campaign, Monreal’s words resonate with urgency. Under Arteta’s tireless campaign, the Gunners have rewritten their domestic story. Now, the Champions League looms as the ultimate test of their new supremacy.
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