Mikel Arteta really believes that his Arsenal team has what it takes to take that next big step this season and finally grab their first Premier League title in 21 years. Sure, he’s mentioned before that he felt his squad was a bit “short” on numbers, but he’s optimistic that they have the right “ingredients” to make a real challenge. Of course, he also pointed out that there are like eight other clubs in the mix who could also snag the title.
While on the club's pre-season tour in Singapore and Hong Kong, Arteta reiterated that his squad might be “short” on numbers.
But hey, he’s got 30 players to work with during their tour of Asia, and he’s convinced they’ve got the “right balance” to compete for the title this upcoming season. “Every year, we need to see how things develop,” he said. “But honestly, I see the right balance in terms of maturity, experience, youth, and hunger. All those ingredients are there.” Still, he knows there are several other teams out there that have what it takes to win, and at the end of the day, there can only be one winner.
At the end of last season and right when they all came back, the main topic was, “Okay, how can we be better? What more can we do?” Arteta acknowledged that they’re so close now in two major competitions, and they just want to take that next step. He knows that there are going to be plenty of little details and moments that need to go their way, and they’ve got to work hard to make that happen.
Arsenal kicks off its pre-season tour with a friendly against AC Milan, then they’ll face Newcastle United, and wrap it all up with a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. Once they’re back in England, Arteta’s squad will host Villarreal and battle it out for the Emirates Cup against Athletic Club, all before diving into their first Premier League match away at Manchester United on August 17.
Arteta is feeling pretty positive that Arsenal will be in the running – they’re looking to spend around £200 million in the transfer window – but he made it clear, “It’s getting more and more competitive every year.” The level is definitely rising. “We know that, so our demands have to rise too.”
Every season brings its own challenges, but he sees that right mix of maturity, experience, youth, and hunger in his squad. But, as he said, there are still six, seven, or eight clubs in the league with the same ambitions, and only one can come out on top.
There are going to be lots of little moments and details that need to swing in their favor. They’ve got to push for it. “We’ve been very active in the market, but improving the players we already have is a huge goal,” he noted. “Plus, we need to lay down the right fundamentals and principles in pre-season to ensure the team is in the best shape and ready to go when the season kicks off.”