Mikel Arteta has called Manchester City the team to beat this season as Arsenal prepare to face the treble winners in the Community Shield.
Arsenal face Manchester City in the season’s traditional curtain-raiser on Sunday, as last season’s top two in the Premier League go head-to-head for silverware at Wembley.
Arsenal led the Premier League for much of last season before faltering during the run-in and Arteta insists his side must be ‘better’ as the Gunners look to win major trophies this season.
“This is what we want, fighting for every trophy. We have to prove that. What we did last year was not enough to win the big trophy and we have to be better,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference.
The north Londoners suffered an emphatic defeat during their last meeting with Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola’s side ran riot to win 4-1 at the Etihad during the title run-in.
Arteta has warned his side must raise their level to compete this weekend and has called City ‘the team to beat’ this season.
“The game started in a way that we didn’t want. They were better in every department, they deserved to win that game without a shadow of a doubt.”
On this weekend’s game, he added: “(We’re) very excited to play a final to win a trophy, we are playing against the team to beat.”
