Mikel Arteta does not need to lead Arsenal to the Premier League title this season as long as the team continues improving, Ally McCoist has exclusively told Sports Mole.

The Gunners have been Manchester City's closest challengers in the past two seasons and only finished two points behind Pep Guardiola's side in 2023-24, having managed to take four points from a possible six against the champions last term.

However, they remain without a Premier League title since their 'Invincibles' in 2003-04, and have only won one major trophy - the 2019-20 FA Cup - under Arteta as he enters his sixth season as manager.

When asked whether he thinks Arteta needs to win the title this season, McCoist told Sports Mole: "No I don't. I don't actually and I'll tell you why and my reasoning for it.

"I'm of the opinion if you're an Arsenal fan you've got to sit back and be disappointed that you haven't won anything more than the FA Cup in the first season, but if you take a kind of logical look at the whole situation, there has been massive improvement in Arsenal.

"So the next step is you want to win things, but as long as your club is continuing to progress, in my opinion, and heading in the right direction, I think that's one of, if not the most important thing."

Earlier this week, McCoist told Sports Mole that Rodri's season-ending injury could be enough to cost Man City the title this season, potentially increasing the chances of Arsenal ending their two-decade wait to be crowned champions of England.

McCoist: "I know Arsenal supporters want a trophy"

Since Arteta won the FA Cup with Arsenal more than four years ago, Erik ten Hag, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Brendan Rodgers have all won major silverware in English football, but while Arsenal supporters might crave further success, McCoist thinks it is important to take a holistic view of Arteta's work at the club.

"Listen, I know Arsenal supporters want a trophy, of course they do, but you've got to say the last couple of years they've given us neutrals incredible excitement, they genuinely have," McCoist told Sports Mole.

"The feeling within the stadium the last couple of years has changed, it's just a good place to watch football. The atmosphere, everything about it. I think Arsenal are in a good place."

Arteta has previously spoken about the improved atmosphere at the Emirates, and has even said that he would love for fans to make the stadium a hostile environment for opposition teams.

Arsenal's attacking prowess has no doubt helped boost excitement amongst fans, with the Gunners having scored 88 Premier League goals in 2022-23 and 91 goals in 2023-24, higher tallies than the 73 they managed in their unbeaten title-winning season of 2003-04.

McCoist: Arteta "doing a great job"

Arsenal are currently fourth in the Premier League with 11 points after five matches and have come in for criticism this season for supposed gamesmanship and pragmatism, particularly when they were reduced to 10 men against both Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City.

However, McCoist feels that any pressure on the Arsenal boss is premature and that Arteta continuing his work is in the best interest of the fans.

"I'm of the opinion that the club's improving and I think that the majority of that is down to the manager, Arteta, who I think is doing a great job, I really do," McCoist told Sports Mole.

"I understand the question of 'well how much time does he get?', but the main thing for me, and I think it's vitally important, the club is still heading in a positive direction, and that's got to be in the best interest of all them fans."

The Gunners have already played Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City away from home and have collected seven points from a possible nine, a return that few clubs would expect to total.

Arsenal beat Bolton Wanderers 5-1 in the third round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday, and will play newly-promoted Leicester City on Saturday at the Emirates.

Ally McCoist was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of talkSPORT bet.