Mikel Arteta is excited to keep building Arsenal after their Premier League win, vowing to make them “the best club in the world”.
The Gunners lifted the trophy last season for the first time in 22 years, and have already made moves to bolster their defence of it, with key arrivals such as Christian Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes.
Arteta says they will keep targeting elite players to get Arsenal to the very top.
“It’s certainly the ambition of the club and the owners to be the best club in the world,” he told Sky Sports at a Premier League launch event ahead of their Friday night opener against Coventry, live on Sky.
“In order to do that, you need the best facilities, the best stadium, the best supporters, and you need the best squad and the best players in the world.
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“Those are the ones that win you football matches and the ones that can be decisive when it matters.
“That’s what we try to build with the actual players that we have, and with the players that we want to sign to make the difference for Arsenal.”
Arsenal go into the season as outright favourites to retain their title, with that status further underlined by their comfortable 3-0 win over Manchester City in Sunday’s Community Shield.
Arteta, however, says he is more than comfortable with the position of being the frontrunners.
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“I think this is part of our industry, and that’s OK,” he said. “For me, it’s when I look into the eyes of my players and I see that fire, that desire and the will to be better every single day.
“That’s the only thing that I care about.”
The weight of history is against Arsenal defending their trophy, however. Arsenal have not defended the top-flight title since the 1990s.
It is another milestone Arteta is keen to overcome.
“That’s an opportunity that we have ahead, and we are very conscious of what it’s going to take to deliver that,” he said.
“But I feel the ambition, I feel the desire, and I feel the ability and the conviction around the team that we can do it.”
Arsenal chief: New signings need ‘to change the dial’
Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlicksays the club want to sign players who “are going to change the dial”.
The Premier League champions missed out on Vinicius Junior after he signed a new Real Madrid contract, while they are interested inAtletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez.
Asked about the club being linked with elite players, Garlick said: “It’s players that are going to take Arsenal forward.
Arsenal’s Bruno Guimaraes during the friendly against Como
“In the past we’ve looked at players that maybe helped build out the squad or get us to a certain level, but now we’re competing right at the top level, and we do need to bring in players that are going to change the dial.
“That might be younger players that come into your squad and give them time to develop, and you’ve seen that in the last couple of years at Arsenal, and if we’re able to combine those players that are coming through the academy with some of the best players in the world then we’ve got every chance of maintaining that success and going beyond what we’ve already achieved.”
Arsenal have spent £143.5m on four summer signings, including the permanent arrival of defender Piero Hincapie.
Questioned on whether there is still money to be spent, Garlick replied: “We said at the start of this season we’re about to embark on that we’re not going to stand still and pat ourselves on the back and say, ‘Well done, job done, nothing else to do’. We want to move forward – the best clubs are always moving forward.
“You can see we’ve already invested in the squad this season, and if the right opportunity arises, then we will look to strengthen in all areas.
“The window’s open for the next couple of weeks, and if there are players that are going to come in and move Arsenal forward, then we will look at that.
“The standard now is high, though – the bar’s been set winning the Premier League title and getting to the Champions League final. We’re probably fishing in a smaller pool of quality players, and that means that it’s tricky to land those players that are going to drive Arsenal forward.
“But if the right opportunity presents itself, we’ll certainly be exploring it.”
Analysis: Where could Arsenal strengthen before window shuts?
Arsenal showed why they are considered favourites to retain the Premier League with their dominant Community Shield victory over Manchester City, but there is still a possibility that Arteta further reinforces his title-winning squad.
They want to add a forward and a defender. Finding a defender who can soften the blow of William Saliba’s extended spell out has led Arsenal to hold talks over potential deals for England internationals Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah.
Both players share a similar profile and have the capacity to play at centre-back and right-back, but both look to be difficult deals to do. Aston Villa want £60m for Konsa and there is a big gap in valuation, while Bayer Leverkusen do not currently want to sell Quansah.
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It remains to be seen if Arsenal can achieve their goal of bringing in a statement forward signing after Vinicius Junior chose to stay at Real Madrid. They are interested in Julian Alvarez at Atletico Madrid, while there are also links with Victor Osimhen.
Arsenal had set out to sign a left-winger at the start of the window but will be alert to any opportunities for long-term targets in the final days of the window that could improve the attack in other positions.
Summer signing Christos Tzolis’ performance levels have taken many by surprise ahead of the new season, including Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta, which may well convince Arsenal that they have adequately addressed the left-wing position.
Arsenal want to make more from sales this summer in a bid to be more financially sustainable, and they are understood to be willing to listen to offers for Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus while there is uncertainty around Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Bruno Guimaraes’ arrival has raised the prospect of either Lewis-Skelly or Martin Zubimendi departing. However, any deal for Zubimendi would likely require Arsenal to make a return on the £51m they signed him for last summer, while Lewis-Skelly goes down as pure profit.
