Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes his side can finally get over their recent near misses and win the Premier League this season after spending almost £200 million on summer arrivals.
Arteta, who last lifted a trophy with the FA Cup in 2020, has overseen a transformation at Arsenal, guiding the Gunners to back-to-back second-place finishes in the Premier League and a Champions League semi-final last season. But the pressure is now on to convert promise into trophies.
This summer’s transfer window saw the arrival of six high-profile signings, including striker Viktor Gyokeres, midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, winger Noni Madueke, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
“We know what our targets are and what we want to achieve this season, there is a big belief in our ability,” Arteta said in his matchday programme ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Villarreal.
“We’ve been very close over the last few seasons. Now, it’s about pushing beyond that.”
Arteta emphasised the importance of internal standards, saying, “We have to make sure we don’t lose sight of what we do daily. The internal demands have to always exceed any external demand.”
He also called on Arsenal fans to help turn the Emirates Stadium into a fortress: “We want our people to connect with our players from the start, to build momentum and feel that at home we are invincible.”
Arsenal kick off their Premier League campaign with a blockbuster clash away to Manchester United on August 17, as they look to start the season with a bold statement.
