Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has suggested that some of his players have not given their maximum this season. The Spaniard has for the first time hinted that several first team players are unable to “evolve” from a certain level, with the Gunners set for the worst Premier League finish in 25 years. And when asked whether he feels his players have given their maximum this season,
Mikel Arteta said “With the majority of them, yes.”
However, after being pressed on the matter further Arteta admitted that some of his players are unable to go past a certain level.
Mikel Arteta said “Again, finding a different way to do it. Challenging them again. Putting somebody next to them to try to push them again. Some of them can get to a certain level and you cannot push them any further. You want to evolve them but it’s not possible.”
Arteta’s side maintain interest in Yves Bissouma, as reported by football.london in January, with the Brighton midfielder an Arsenal fan and still in regular contact with Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Magahales from their playing days at Lille. Bissouma, who shares the same agent as Pepe, is seen as a potential long-term partner to Thomas Partey in midfield, with Arsenal’s central midfield set to be depleted this summer as Dani Ceballos returns to Real Madrid. Among the players available for transfer this summer include Bernd Leno, Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac.
Arteta and technical director Edu are planning for an overhaul of club playing staff this summer. It comes as Arsenal owners KSE (Kroenke Sports & Entertainment) have made promises on an internal staff call that they will back the as manager as he looks to strengthen the first team squad in several key positions. New arrivals are expected alongside a flurry of departures from fringe players to underperforming squad members.
