Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has congratulated Tottenham Hotspur for winning the Europa League on Wednesday, May 21, highlighting that a team winning a trophy should not be a yardstick to measure or judge its success in a season.His comments come after 17th-placed Spurs ended the season on a high note as they won the European trophy.However, Arteta's side, who are second in the Premier League behind champions Liverpool, will finish without any silverware this term.

0

"They are [Europa League] champions, and when you get to that, you have to do a lot of things right. I think they're going through a season with a lot of obstacles and difficulties.

1

And they have, at the end… A beautiful moment," Arteta said.

2

In response to a question regarding the best performance among the two clubs (Arsenal and Spurs), Arteta snubbed a direct answer, noting his responsibility to analyze his side rather than compare it with other teams' performances.

3

"I don't like to compare with other teams. I need to analyze my team; that's my job," Arteta, who led Arsenal to the Champions League semifinals, said.

4

5

Arteta added that a team should not be judged solely on their trophy count in a season, citing the example of his own side, who have never won the Champions League and have not lifted the Premier League trophy since 2003-04.

6

"Where is the joy then? Because then if I have to analyse ourselves … We have failed the last 20 years in the Premier League, and we have failed in all our history in the Champions League," Arteta said.

7

"Who are we then? Where is our brand? where is our club? Where is our value, our way of playing? Where are the moments that we lived together with our people?"

8

Arteta said Arsenal, who have conceded only 33 league goals so far this season, seven fewer than Liverpool, were motivated to finish with the best defensive record in the top flight as they end their campaign at relegated Southampton on Sunday.

9

"We want to have as many points as possible. We still want to achieve the best defensive record … Finish the season on a high," he added.

10