Ahead of the new Premier League season, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was interviewed by Sky Sports, where he discussed the club's objectives for the upcoming campaign.

Reflecting on last season:

It took me ten days to recover after losing the Champions League final on penalties. It was a heavy blow and made me think a lot. But then you realize the season we had, all the effort we put in, and the summary of that entire year – not just that moment, but the journey and everything around it. Everyone involved collectively brought the club to where it is today and, ultimately, won a trophy. Obviously, we hadn't touched this honour in 22 years, which is a very long time. But it was worth it. I think the final feeling during the parade was unique, simply wonderful, and I'm deeply grateful for it.

You'll notice that truly great teams – like Manchester City under Guardiola and Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson – have won titles multiple times and successfully defended them. Arsenal has never done that; even in the great eras under Arsène Wenger, they never managed to defend the title. Is that the message you conveyed to your players before this season began? That if we really want to prove our greatness, we must win again.

This is the challenge we face, and we're well aware of what it takes to achieve this goal. But I can feel the ambition, the hunger, and 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 seems like you personally, the club, and the entire team are in constant growth. Many people now refer to Arsenal as a "superclub". I think people are talking about the ability to compete with top European clubs – like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. Do you feel you're now ready to take on that responsibility and start regularly challenging these giants and the top clubs in other nations?

I believe that over the last four or five years, whether in terms of performance across all competitions, club growth, or the many crucial factors driving us into that league or category, we've maintained a very high level of stability. Now we need to win more major trophies to reach that level, and that's our current task.

You're seeing one of your closest friends and confidants – Guardiola – step down from his position as Manchester City manager. New rivals have arrived, with Arne Slot taking over at Liverpool, and Luis de la Fuente now managing the Spanish national team. From your perspective, does this add any excitement?

It does, but it also brings a strong sense of pride. Because the three of us are from the same region in San Sebastián, and we used to play for the same club – Real Sociedad. It's really incredible to be managing three of the world's top clubs in the best league in the world, and perhaps only football can create such a miracle.

A lot has changed with your direct rivals. We've talked about Manchester City, we've talked about Liverpool, and Chelsea also has a new manager. From your perspective, does this make things easier or harder? It seems to me these great clubs you're about to compete against are somewhat of an unknown quantity this season.

Yes, but I think the foundations of these clubs are very, very, very deep. Although the head coach position has changed, the same goes for many players and many things that have been implemented by them over many years. So they are clearly big threats because they have absolute strength, heritage, and history – fully capable of delivering high-level performances and demonstrating elite standards.

You know better than anyone that to stay at the top, you must constantly move forward and progress, and I think we've seen that in the transfer market. This summer you tried and succeeded in some deals. Were you eyeing Vinicius Jr., and have you long admired Julián Álvarez? Are these elite players the kind Arsenal should now pursue? Because their quality must exceed that of your current players, and your squad is already capable of winning the Premier League.

The club and the owners do indeed have a clear ambition to become the best club in the world. To do that, you need the best facilities, the best stadium, the best fans. You need the best squad and the most exceptional players in the world. These are the players who can win you games and be decisive in critical moments. That's what we're trying to build with our current players, and that's why we want to sign them to make a difference for Arsenal.

Do you feel comfortable being considered the strongest title contenders? Because, in the view of most commentators I speak with, you're the clear favourites for the title this season. I imagine you probably hate that idea, right?

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

Traduzido por IA.

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