Harry Diamond
Mikel Arteta admits it is ‘very difficult’ to make plans for Arsenal’s summer recruitment despite him having ‘clear ideas’ of how he wants to take the club forward.
Arsenal currently sit tenth in the Premier League and face a difficult task to secure a top four finish, the Gunners facing the realistic prospect of a fourth consecutive season outside of Europe’s elite, an absence that is likely to restrict Arteta’s financial plans this summer.
Last week’s Europa League exit at the hands of Olympiakos ended an alternative route back into the Champions League and ahead of this weekend’s clash against West Ham, Arteta admits it is “very difficult” to plan ahead amid the uncertainty over the North London side’s financial situation.
“Very difficult,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference. “Because I like everything very planned and detailed and it goes a little bit against my principles, but we have to adapt in that sense again.
“I have very clear ideas in terms of what I would like to do in terms of the squad, in terms of certain individuals and how we can improve the team, but obviously the case or scenario [is something] we don’t know.
“It’s going to depend on what we do this season and what happened in the last few seasons is going to have a big impact as well.”
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