Ahead of the new Premier League season, Arsenal manager Arteta was interviewed by Sky Sports, where he discussed his targets for the campaign ahead.

Reflecting on last season:

It took me about ten days to get over the loss in the Champions League final on penalties. It was a very heavy blow, and it made me think a lot. But then you realize the season we've had, all the effort we've put in, and what this entire year has meant—not just that, but the journey and everything. Everyone involved collectively has brought the club to where it is now, and ultimately won a trophy. Of course, we haven't won this honour in 22 years, which is a long time. But it was all worth it. I think the feeling at the end during the parade was unique, truly extraordinary, and I'm very grateful for it.

You can see that truly great teams—like Manchester City under Pep Guardiola and Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson—have won titles multiple times and managed to retain them. Arsenal has never done that; even during great periods under Arsène Wenger, we never managed to retain our titles. Is this the message you're sending to the players before this season starts? If we truly want to prove our greatness, we have to win again.

This is the challenge we face, and we're very aware of what's needed to achieve this goal. But I can feel everyone's ambition, I can feel that desire, and I can sense the ability and belief around the team that we can do it.

You've been here for six years now. This is your sixth season at Arsenal, and it feels like you personally, the club, and the entire team continue to evolve. Many people now call Arsenal a "super club." I think people are talking about the ability to compete with Europe's top clubs—like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. Do you feel ready now to take on this responsibility and start genuinely challenging these giants and the top domestic clubs on a regular basis?

I believe that over the last four or five years, we've maintained a very high level of consistency—in our performance across all competitions, the club's growth, and many crucial factors that push you into that group or category. Now, we need to win more major trophies to reach that level, and that's our current challenge.

You've seen one of your closest friends and trusted confidants, Pep Guardiola, step down from his position as Manchester City manager. And new rivals have emerged: Andoni Iraola has taken over Liverpool, and Xabi Alonso is now managing Chelsea, becoming your most direct competitors. From your perspective, does this add an extra layer of intrigue?

It certainly does, but it also brings a strong sense of pride. Because the three of us are from the same region in San Sebastian, and we used to play for the same club—Real Sociedad. For three of us to manage top clubs in the world's best league is truly remarkable, and perhaps only football can create such magic.

So many changes have happened among your most direct competitors. We've talked about Manchester City, and Liverpool and Chelsea also have new managers. From your perspective, does this make things easier or more difficult? To me, these strong clubs that you'll face this season seem somewhat unpredictable.

Yes, but I think these clubs have a very, very strong foundation. While the head coach position has changed, many of the players and much of what they've implemented over the years remain in place. So they're clearly a huge threat because they have the strength, legacy, and absolute pedigree to deliver elite-level performances and set the highest standards.

You know better than anyone that to stay at the top, you have to keep moving forward, keep improving—and I think we've seen that in the transfer market. This summer you've attempted and succeeded in several deals. You've targeted Vinícius and have long admired Julián Álvarez. Are these elite players the caliber Arsenal must now compete for? Because their quality should be superior to your existing squad, and your current team is already capable of winning the Premier League title.

The club and ownership certainly have clear ambition: to become the best club in the world. To achieve that, you need the best facilities, the best stadium, the best fans. You need the best squad and the most outstanding players in the world. These are players who can win matches for you and make the difference in crucial moments. That's what we're trying to build with the players we have, and why we want to recruit them to make a difference for Arsenal.

Do you feel comfortable being the main title favorite? Because according to most commentators I've spoken to, you're the clear favorite to win the title this season. I'm not sure—you might hate that idea, right?

No, I don't hate it. I think it's just their opinion, and that's part of our industry, which is fine. For me, when I look into the players' eyes and see the fire, hunger, and determination to improve every day, that's the only thing I care about.

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