Mikel Arteta has established a goal for Arsenal in terms of points needed to be in contention for the Premier League title, as they prepare to face Sheffield United.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that his team will need to accumulate 90 points in the Premier League if they want to secure the title this season. The Gunners are determined to end their 20-year wait for a league victory, after narrowly missing out to Manchester City last season. This time around, Arsenal find themselves in a three-way battle, currently trailing both Liverpool and City. However, if they manage to defeat Sheffield United on Monday evening, they will be just two points off the top spot.

Despite a challenging end to 2023, Arteta’s side has started the new year in impressive form, scoring goals aplenty. Their six consecutive league victories in 2024 have resulted in a total of 25 goals. However, Arteta acknowledges the high standard set by their rivals and understands the immense challenge that lies ahead. He suggests that his team may need to maintain a flawless run until May in order to have a chance at the title.

Speaking ahead of their match against Sheffield United, Arteta stated, “The demands, you might have to win every game. There are a lot of games and we are all going to have crazy schedules and this league might be different to last season. Anything under 90 points I think would be very difficult.”

The North London giants have only reached the 90-point mark once before, during their iconic ‘Invincibles’ campaign in 2003/04. Last season, they came closest with a total of 84 points. To surpass this barrier now, Arsenal would need to secure 10 wins and two draws from their final 12 games, or 11 wins, leaving very little room for error.

In contrast, both Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and City under Pep Guardiola have consistently accumulated high points totals. The top four totals in Premier League history, and six of the top eight, have been achieved by these two teams. Remarkably, within the last five years, Liverpool earned 92 and 97 points in campaigns that only resulted in runners-up medals.

Arsenal’s quest for a perfect finish will face significant challenges, including away matches against City and local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. They also have a crucial home fixture against a strong Aston Villa side. However, Arteta is fully aware of the immediate task at hand against Sheffield United, acknowledging their strength as a team. He praised their coach, Chris Wilder, and expressed his admiration for the way they play. Arteta expects a tough match against The Blades.

In conclusion, Arsenal’s aspirations of lifting the Premier League trophy will require an exceptional run of form. With their rivals setting high standards, Arteta knows that his team must strive for perfection and accumulate 90 points to have a chance at the title.