Mikel Arteta declared that Arsenal are among the ‘best’ clubs in world football in response to suggestions that the Gunners’ spot in the European Super League was unwarranted.
Last Sunday, 12 European clubs including the Premier League’s ‘big six’ – Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City – announced plans to join a breakaway competition which would directly rival the UEFA Champions League.
48 hours later, following widespread condemnation from fans, pundits and politicians alike, all English clubs signalled their intentions to withdraw as the controversial proposal began to collapse.
Given the fact that Arsenal are down in ninth in the Premier League table, while their rivals Tottenham are in sixth, there were questions over whether the two north London clubs deserved to be involved given their current performances on the pitch.
When asked what his response would be to those suggestions, Arteta simply said: ‘That we are one of the best clubs in the world.
‘That we could not be any prouder to represent this club, its history and we totally understand the demands and the excellence that we have to be pursuing for.
‘Because it’s history and you cannot deny the history.
‘That history is attached to results, it’s attached to certain way of doing things, to certain values, to representing those in the right manner, to have the amount of support that we have around the world.
‘That’s not a coincidence, that’s been earned over years and years with merit to a lot of people that have been involved in the history of this football club.’
Arsenal fans are planning protests against Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke before Friday’s Premier League clash against Everton at the Emirates.
It will be the first game for the Gunners since the controversial Super League plans were announced, and supporters are ready to vent their frustrations about majority shareholder Kroenke.
MORE : Sir Alex Ferguson singles out ‘absolutely fantastic’ Arsenal star Kieran Tierney ahead of Euro 2020
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