Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes ‘Big Six’ era is over in Premier League

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes the era of the Premier League’s so-called ‘Big Six’ is over.

The Gunners entertain Newcastle in their final home match of the season at the Emirates on Sunday with both sides vying to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Arteta’s players need just two points from their last two fixtures to be assured of being in Europe’s top-tier competition for a third successive campaign, while Newcastle’s fate is also in their own hands.

They are one point clear of sixth-placed Manchester City and know a win at the Emirates would take them into second place ahead of their final game against Everton at St James’ Park next Sunday.

But with Pep Guardiola’s City scrambling to salvage a Champions League spot, and both Manchester United and Tottenham relying on Europa League success to claim Champions League qualification, Arteta said: “The level has gone to something bigger than what we have experienced in the previous 12 months and in the past.

“I know a lot of the coaches and we have had discussions about that, and it is frightening the way that it is evolving, and how competitive it is, and how difficult it is to win, and because the margins are so small next season is going to be even more difficult.

“If you ask any manager at the end of the season: ‘Can you promise to be in the Champions League next season?’, I don’t know who is going to say ‘yes’ to that, so that tells you the story.

“We understand the expectations and how people think but to get sustainability, stability and to be in the best possible position as a football club, as a squad and as a team, you certainly have to be in that competition.”

With their superior goal difference, a draw against Newcastle is likely to be enough to get Arsenal over the Champions League line.

But Arteta will be left empty-handed for a fifth straight season after Arsenal fell at the semi-final stages of both the Champions League and Carabao Cup, and were blown away by Liverpool in a one-sided title race.

Arteta has had to deal with a significant number of injuries. Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and defender Gabriel have all been sidelined for significant periods this term.

And when asked if he had any regrets, Arteta said: “I wouldn’t use that word. I think you probably have regrets in your life and anything that you do in professional life as well when you haven’t done your best.

“But I can guarantee and give you my word that we have all tried our very best. If you ask if we wanted a different outcome, especially with how close we’ve come again, then the answer is yes.

“However, that doesn’t undermine a lot of incredible things that this team has done again in the context that we play, against the opposition that we play, and with the circumstances that we have had.”