Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was interviewed by SuperSport, where he discussed last season's Premier League title victory, summer signings, and his friendships with Iraola and Alonso.

Mikel, thank you so much for speaking with SuperSport. It's the first time in over two decades that we've managed to interview an Arsenal manager who is also the reigning Premier League champion. How does it feel? How do you feel about the reactions from fans around the world?

It feels better than I expected, or than we all expected. Because it's been a long journey. And there have been incredible moments on this journey, but obviously difficult moments too. And when you give everything you have, and you come so close, and you lose it, it's brutal and it's hard. But I believe we're enjoying this moment more than ever because we feel we deserve it. We did it our way. And seeing that emotional connection with our fans in London and around the world—it's simply incredible.

Now that the club has won the title, what's the atmosphere and energy like there?

It's fantastic. Obviously, the moment you win the title, it awakens a beast inside you that craves victory—a voice that constantly tells you: I want to experience this feeling again. We're also aware of what kind of effort we need to make to experience that exhilarating emotion and experience again. So it depends on our daily training, the standards we set for ourselves, and the club's undeniable ambition, as well as the attitude of the entire coaching staff and players. Everyone has to prove to each other every single day, in every routine, step by step, that we can reach our final objective again.

Now that you've done it, the big question everyone is asking is: can Arsenal defend the title? What does Mikel Arteta think?

We have to prove it on the pitch. In Arsenal Football Club's history, we have never successfully defended the Premier League title. So this is a new opportunity in front of us. We know what challenges this will bring, and we also know that we are fully capable of doing it, but we have to let our actions speak for themselves on the pitch. We must show our absolute focus and firm conviction in achieving this objective through our words, actions, and daily training habits.

After finishing as runners-up for several consecutive seasons, you've finally crossed the line. Does that make you feel a bit more relaxed going into the new season?

I think it makes your ideas clearer and gives you the firm conviction that you can do it. But after that, the new season is still a long marathon. You have to start from preseason, work hard day after day, and constantly challenge yourself. Along the way, you'll encounter many unexpected emergencies, and you have to face and resolve them with a natural mentality, while firmly believing that you have the capacity to handle these difficulties.

During Arsenal's title-winning campaign last season, the team displayed a very distinct tactical style. Among these, set-piece tactics played an extremely important role. Can we expect to see the same tactical performance in the new season?

We want to be the best in every phase of the game, at every tactical level. Last season, we led in many phases of the league, not just in set pieces but in many other aspects as well, which was crucial in improving our chances of winning the title. In the new season, we will continue to evolve and improve in other areas while hopefully maintaining our already very strong tactical advantages.

You brought new faces to the squad during the offseason. What are your expectations for their contribution in the new season?

I have a very positive attitude about them. The early signs they've shown in preseason are very encouraging, and it's a very convincing start. I believe they will bring some elements to this squad that we were missing, and in my view, this is exactly what the squad desperately needed.

Beyond football talent, what other qualities do you value most when signing new players?

First and foremost, they have to be good people. I believe they need to be someone who can integrate into and strengthen our team culture, and who can build strong connections with those around them. They must have clear objectives, truly understand why they're joining this club, and be ambitious about playing here. Second, of course, there's their competitive ability, which must elevate our overall level, make their teammates better, and be able to raise the entire team with their energy, leadership, and desire to win.

Let's talk about the broader Premier League landscape. It seems like the beginning of a new era, especially with so many managerial changes this season. How do you feel about facing more and more managers you played against during your playing career?

It's incredible, really. I mean, life always takes you to places and situations you don't expect, especially in football, which is very magical in that regard, and it's happened countless times in my career. But now, especially competing against Andoni (Iraola) and Xabi (Alonso), it's truly amazing, because before we lived just five minutes apart in the same city. And now we're all managing top clubs in the Premier League.

Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to ask about next. Antiguako. Am I pronouncing that correctly?

Yes, that's right.

You guys really made that academy famous. Let's talk about how that youth academy shaped your playing career.

I'd say they deserve all the credit in the world. Because I believe they inspired us, lit the spark inside us, and made us believe that we were good enough—that we could pursue the dream of becoming professional footballers. But at the same time, they also gave us something deeper, like respect for the game, adherence to football values. They didn't just help us understand the game from a player's perspective, but they also taught us to think about football from a coach's perspective. So I'm very grateful for everything they gave us. I believe many other talented people will emerge from there in the future. We're certainly not the only ones, and it's a great honor for us to have reached this position today.

You just mentioned Alonso and Iraola. You three now manage top clubs in the Premier League. What does that mean to you?

It's absolutely incredible. We played in the same team, trained together, and pushed each other. And in the blink of an eye, we're all managers in the best league in the world. We manage the best clubs in the world and we'll face each other head-to-head on the pitch. So I feel incredibly proud.

Many people now look to the manager at the top, and that's you. So where does the top manager draw inspiration? Where do you find inspiration?

There are many sources. My family, my players, my coaching staff, other managers, other sports, even other industries, and so on. Because we know that football will continue to evolve, the entire industry is constantly changing, and the demands and expectations on the pitch are becoming increasingly higher. You have to strive to find a better version of yourself to build the best Arsenal Football Club that we can have. That's our objective.

Finally, I want to talk to you about your holiday. Do you feel rejuvenated? Did you have many barbecues during this break, like you used to at Manchester City?

It was a truly fantastic summer. The first few days were very difficult after losing on penalties in the Champions League final, and it took me a while to get over that. But after that, I enjoyed a longer break than usual. I had all the time to think about the future direction of the club and also to reflect on myself. Yes, I enjoyed that period. But in the last few weeks of the break, I felt butterflies in my stomach, eager to get back on the pitch, get everything in order, and see the lads again.

Tradotto dall'IA.

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