Mikel Arteta has outlined his intentions for the upcoming season by making clear Arsenal’s determination to secure further major honours.
Arteta and his squad are focused on adding more silverware to their collection this term. The north London outfit demonstrated their mindset heading into the new season by firmly stating their goal of securing another Premier League crown.
After a demanding previous campaign that saw them fall short in both the Carabao Cup showpiece and the Champions League decider, Arteta’s side finally ended their 22-year drought for the top-flight title. The journey was far from straightforward, requiring a monumental push to cross the finish line ahead of Manchester City, who had finished runners-up to them for three consecutive seasons before this breakthrough.
Historically, clubs have struggled with the challenge of maintaining their intensity after clinching a championship, often losing the hunger and desire that carried them to success. However, Arteta’s Arsenal represent the least likely candidates to experience such a decline, given his reputation for demanding excellence and the defining qualities instilled throughout his squad in recent times.
During an appearance on the Men in Blazers podcast, presenter Roger Bennett introduced the Arsenal manager as the defending Premier League champion. The Spaniard immediately interjected with a grin, expressing enthusiasm about going for another Premier League title and making clear that was the direction the club was heading.
Arsenal’s subsequent performance in the Community Shield offered compelling evidence that these were not hollow promises. The team arrived at the Principality Stadium last Sunday with a single objective: victory. They comprehensively defeated their closest challengers and secured a commanding 3-0 win, signalling to their rivals that they remain genuine contenders this season.
When Bennett questioned how the term defending champions sat with him, Arteta expressed his enthusiasm, noting that the club now aims to pursue bigger achievements beyond the title they won, with a desire to create something much more significant as an organisation.
Arsenal’s opening competitive fixture of the campaign demonstrated their commanding presence. The club’s hierarchy have backed their ambitions with significant activity during the current transfer window. Following the completion of Piero Hincapie’s permanent move, they acquired Illan Meslier as cover for the goalkeeper position, signed winger Christos Tzolis for £34million, brought in midfielder Bruno Guimaraes for £75million, and have now reached an agreement valued at a minimum of £51million for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa.
When questioned about the future direction, Arteta emphasised that Arsenal would pursue success across all competitions this term. He highlighted the prevailing mood within the squad as a strong desire to replicate their previous achievements and experience those emotions once again. He described this drive as deeply embedded in the team’s mentality, stressing the importance of starting from day one and recognising that significant effort would be required from everyone involved, while expressing confidence in the squad’s ability to deliver.
He noted that establishing a lasting legacy represents the club’s current objective and reflects the shared ambition permeating throughout the entire organisation, from the ownership group through every member of staff to the playing squad.