Arteta reaches 300th Arsenal game insisting team must raise level to win trophies

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal has to reach another level if they want to start winning the biggest prizes again, as he prepares for his 300th match in charge of the club.

The Spaniard, 43, hits the milestone on Saturday when the Gunners host West Ham at the Emirates. Victory could put Arsenal top of the Premier League, if only for a few hours, before leaders Liverpool take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge later in the day.

Arteta has won 174 of his 299 matches in charge so far, a rate of about 58 per cent. He claimed the FA Cup in his first season back in 2020 but he has not managed to add another major trophy since, with Arsenal finishing second in the league three years running.

“Even with that winning rate, we haven’t won major trophies, so that shows the level,” Arteta said. “That’s why you have to do what has been done before, but this level is not enough; it has to be much more, and it is much more difficult. That’s what we’ll try to focus on doing.”

Arsenal’s home form against West Ham has been patchy of late. The Hammers has come away with wins from the Emirates in each of the last two seasons. They arrive this time with Nuno Espirito Santo in charge after Graham Potter was sacked last month.

“We want to continue to play and flow and dominate games in the manner that we are doing,” Arteta added. “It’s about generating momentum. There are periods in the season that are critical and tomorrow’s game is a really important one for us. That’s why from the beginning we need to generate that and go for it, because after we have a two-week break with the international week.”

Arsenal has also won both of their Champions League games so far this season and remain unbeaten in all competitions. For Arteta, the 300th game is another milestone, but he knows supporters will judge him on how many trophies follow.