Mikel Arteta has congratulated Tottenham on their Europa League final victory over Manchester United, but refused to draw comparisons with his Arsenal side. The Gunners have now gone five years without a trophy, while Spurs ended a 17-year drought with the win.
Arsenal are set to finish second in the Premier League for a third successive season, and were eliminated early from the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League. Arteta insisted that missing out on silverware makes his squad even more determined to win.
“Yeah, congratulate them. They are champions and when you get to that you have to do a lot of things right,” Arteta said. “I don't like to compare with other teams, I focus on my team. A worry? Well, externally yes. But then, I think, make decisions based on that. So next season you don't do that, you are out.”
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou hopes the Europa League triumph can be a platform for sustained success. “I have been a serial winner my whole career,” he said. “All those boys – having this feeling – will want it again. They've climbed the mountain now. It accelerates the opportunities to build a team who can be successful for years to come.”
