Mikel Arteta has warned Arsenal that last season’s levels ‘won’t be enough’ to end the club’s wait for the Premier League title.
Arsenal earned a club-record 28 league wins during the 2023/24 campaign but missed out on the Premier League to Manchester City by two points. The Gunners have finished second in successive seasons and are aiming to win the title for the first time in 21 years this season.
Ahead of the club’s opening fixture against Wolves, Arteta warned that his team must find another level to unseat Manchester City as the league’s dominant force.
“Break more of those records again and win more points that’s for sure,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference when asked on the season’s ambitions.
“It won’t be enough [last season’s levels]. With the level we are competing with and every season is getting harder we are going to have to improve again that’s for sure.”
Asked how his team are feeling ahead of the season’s opening weekend, Arteta said he has been impressed with the sharpness of his squad.
“Well we are really excited. We have been missing the competition for many weeks – too long for us. We are so willing to start, really enthusiastic about it. We had a really challenging pre-season but managed to adapt and it was a great challenge for everybody.
“Playing different conditions, we took it as an opportunity and a good challenge.
“The team has looked really sharp, looked at it and desperate to play.”
Arsenal have brought in Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna to strengthen the squad this summer, while David Raya’s loan from Brentford has been made permanent. Talks are ongoing for Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, though the Arsenal boss refused to comment on a potential deal.
“Before the season we had two objectives. The main one was to make sure that we are very much in love with our players and find ways to improve them because that’s the main thing and then are are certain opportunities in the market to improve the squad we have to look at that, that’s what we are trying to do.”
