Ahead of the new Premier League season opener, where reigning champions Arsenal will host newly-promoted Coventry, Arsenal manager Arteta attended a press conference to answer media questions. The following is the second part of the conference.

Hello Mikel, how have you been? Have you had time to enjoy the fruits of your hard labor last season? You put in a tremendous effort to win the title. Did you really have time to sit back and enjoy it?

Yes, I have. To enjoy, to reflect. There's time for everything. It was a long summer, longer than we usually have. Yes, and because of that, I feel refreshed and motivated, and I can feel the enthusiasm here, which is exactly what I want to see.

You were obviously busy in the first half of the summer, but also cheering for Spain to win the World Cup. That's why I asked that question. How difficult is it to defend the title? Once you've won it, how much harder is it to defend it?

We'll find out very soon. We haven't experienced defending as a manager before, so I can't tell you exactly right now. I have had experience defending, but in a different role. As I said before, it depends on your daily commitment, the standards you set, and how you uphold those standards day in and day out to earn the right to be where you want to be at the end of May, giving yourself the opportunity to win again.

I was thinking on the way here today that you and Frank Lampard must really love football. You were both top players, and could have easily been pundits in a TV studio without the pressure. But you both chose to become managers, wanting to succeed, wanting to go through that head-scratching process of telling players when they can play and when they can't. Why do you think both of you have been able to succeed in such a difficult role over the past 12 months?

Probably because we share a common passion and love for the sport. It fulfills you as a person and gives meaning to your life. That's why I do this job and work with the people around me. It brings me so much joy and happiness, it's a very fulfilling part of my life and I really enjoy it.

Last question, I don't know how many times you've played against Frank Lampard. Do you have any memories of playing against him when he was at Chelsea?

I've watched some videos of us playing against each other on the pitch. What a great player he was. He's one of my favorite midfielders of all time. He could create great performances, he could do almost anything in midfield. He was an out-and-out world-class player.

Hello Mikel. A couple of injury updates. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice came on as substitutes earlier. Are they fit enough to start now?

Yes, they are ready.

And Timber? You mentioned he might join full team training this week. Is that still the case?

No, I said hopefully in the coming weeks. He's not training with the team yet.

In terms of squad size, different coaches prefer different numbers. What's the ideal number for you? What size squad do you like to work with?

It depends on player availability and their injury history. I think there are many factors to consider. 22 outfield players and 3 goalkeepers are usually enough, or you might need more. You need to understand what happened last season, the injury records of these players, and the versatility of certain players. But I'm sure we'll find the right number to balance both: fierce competition and healthy cooperation within the team, making everyone feel like an important part of it.

With Guimaraes joining, it strengthens the midfield — one of the best midfielders in Europe. Do you see other players being encouraged by this, as the competition will become more intense, right?

Yes, that's what new signings can bring. It brings new energy, the motivation to prove themselves in front of them, and obviously competition. When you talk about players with that caliber and leadership, the same applies to Tsolis and Meslier, look at everything they've done since day one, I think it raises everyone's level.

Hello Mikel. Just a quick question, how is Guimaraes after coming off?

Let's see how he is. His recovery is progressing very well, but we'll have to see again tomorrow.

You talk a lot about evolution and moving to a higher level. Obviously, many games you won last season were 1-0, 2-1 or 3-2, often by a single goal. In your mind, does "evolution" mean winning by bigger margins? Is it that simple? How broad is the scope of "evolution"?

The more dominant we are and the larger our lead, the better, of course. So to achieve that, we have to do better in every aspect. To achieve this, compared to last season, we need to maintain higher player availability for most of the season, so we can widen those leads.

Regarding Lewis-Skelly, more specifically, are you confident that he will remain an Arsenal player when the transfer window closes?

One hundred percent.

We see transfer fees rising every year, but the club's record sale still seems to be only £35 million, and that was about ten years ago. Do you think historically, Arsenal has done a poor job of selling players?

It's not about good or bad. It depends on the selling options you have. Based on the level of our players, their abilities, contract situations, and their desire to leave, perhaps we've done very well in the past. One potential issue you might face is that perhaps you want to make certain decisions about certain players, but they are happy here and want to stay. So, when you sell a player, many factors must align simultaneously. So in my opinion, it's not that simple.

Last summer there was a huge investment, and this window saw further strengthening. Is the club now approaching a stage where new signings might not be possible until player sales are completed?

It also depends on sporting success. I don't think there's any club in Europe like Arsenal that has achieved such great growth in terms of club valuation, on-field performance, and financial revenue. So it's very significant. Some other clubs might need to sell players to sustain themselves. I think the approach we've taken has largely elevated the club's level and capabilities in all aspects.

Hello Mikel, how do you change your mindset from being the chaser to being the chased, from finishing runner-up three years in a row to becoming champions? Do you feel like you are now the target for opponents? Will you tell your players that as champions, they have become the target?

Not for them, because tomorrow we start from scratch, and we have to prove whether we have the ability to get back to that position. But I think something similar has happened in the last three seasons, at times we've been in the lead, and at other times we've been chasing. I never know which situation is better. If you ask me to choose, I want to be first, I want to be chased, I want to control our own future, not depend on others' performance.

Many home games, especially in the second half of the season, when you were trying to cross the finish line, the atmosphere was very tense, and everyone's emotions were fluctuating greatly. Do you think now that you've experienced it, will the home atmosphere change? Will it become more - maybe not relaxed, but at least not as anxious and emotional as last season?

I don't know. I think the stadium atmosphere has been evolving over the last three or four years, from two years ago to last season. Indeed, when you are very close to your goal, the atmosphere and emotions of fearing a repeat of the past can hold you back. However, when I saw the championship parade, the celebrations, and those abundant emotions, I am very confident. In my opinion, we will have the best stadium and the best stadium atmosphere in the world. Because if we achieve this, we will have a better chance of achieving our common goals.

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