TAKING THE MIK

Arteta: It’s a big job, but I need a few more transfer windows to get the squad I need to challenge for title* *(Er... you know it’ll be 2022 by then)

- TOM HOPKINSON

MIKEL ARTETA has warned Arsenal fans that it will be a couple more transfer windows at least before he has reshaped the Gunners squad to the way he wants it.

Which means it will be 2022 – at the absolute earliest – before the Spaniard feels he has a group capable of mounting a title challenge.

Arteta, who took over at the Emirates little more than 11 months ago, said: “It takes a few windows at least to rebuild a squad.

“And to establish yourself to compete at the level of certain clubs in this league, which is near 100 points, again it takes time.

“In football, time is very precious and people are very impatient. But if you don’t respect the processes and you ask certain people to do certain things when the foundations are not there, it’s a really dangerous thing to do as well.