Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was interviewed by SuperSport, where he reflected on the club's triumphant Premier League title-winning campaign last season, discussed the summer signings, and his friendships with Iraola and Alonso.

Mikel, thank you very much for joining us at SuperSport. This is the first time in over two decades that we've interviewed an Arsenal manager as the reigning Premier League champions. How does it feel? What has been the reaction from fans around the world?

It feels even better than I anticipated, or perhaps all of us anticipated. Because it's been a long journey. A journey where we had magnificent moments, but obviously moments of self-doubt. When you come so close to the dream and it slips away, it's brutal and very difficult. But I think we're enjoying it more than ever because we feel we deserved it. We did it our way. And witnessing firsthand the emotional bond we have with London and Arsenal fans around the world is simply incredible.

Now that the club has won the title, how is the atmosphere and energy there?

It's fantastic. Obviously, the moment you win the title, it's like awakening a beast inside you that craves victory, a voice constantly telling you: I want to experience this feeling again. We also understand the effort required to go through that electrifying emotion and experience once more. So it depends on our daily training, the standards we set for ourselves, and the undeniable ambition of the club, as well as the attitude of the entire coaching staff and players. Everyone needs to prove their worth every day, in every session, step by step, to achieve our final objective again.

Now that you've achieved this, the most pressing question is: can Arsenal defend the title? What does Mikel Arteta think about that?

We have to prove it on the pitch. In Arsenal Football Club's history, we've never successfully defended the Premier League title. So this is a new opportunity in front of us. We know the challenges we'll face, and we also know we're fully capable of doing it, but we must let our actions speak on the field. We must demonstrate our extreme focus and unwavering belief in achieving this objective through our words, actions, and daily training habits.

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

I think it gives you more clarity and a firm belief that you really can do it. But after that, the new season is still a long marathon. You have to start with preparation, work hard day after day, and constantly challenge yourself. Along this path, many unexpected situations will arise, and you must face them and resolve them with a natural mentality, while firmly believing in our ability to handle these difficulties.

During Arsenal's winning campaign last season, the team displayed a very distinct tactical style. In particular, 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 all phases of the game, at all tactical levels. Last season, we were ahead in many phases of the league, not just in set pieces, but in many other aspects too, which was crucial in increasing our chances of winning the title. In the new season, we will continue to evolve, improve in other areas, and at the same time, we hope to maintain our already very strong tactical advantages.

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

I have a very positive attitude towards them. The early signs they showed in pre-season are very encouraging—a very convincing start. I think they will bring some elements to this squad that were missing, and in my view, the team really needed them. First and foremost, they must be good people. I think they should be someone who can integrate and strengthen our team culture, and be able to build strong connections with those around them. They need to have clear objectives, truly understand why they're joining this club, and be ambitious about playing here. Secondly, obviously, their athletic ability must be capable of raising our overall level, improving their teammates around them, and lifting the entire team with their energy, leadership, and desire to win.

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

It's really incredible. I mean, life always takes you to places and situations you never expected, especially football, which is very magical in that regard, and it's been a recurring occurrence throughout my career. But now, especially competing with Andoni (Iraola) and Xabi (Alonso), it's really something unbelievable because we used to live just five minutes from each other 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 next. Antiguako. Did I pronounce it correctly?

Yes, that's correct.

You three made that academy famous. Can you tell us how this youth academy shaped your career as a player?

I'd say they deserve all the praise in the world. Because I think they inspired us, lit the spark within us, making us believe we were good enough, believe we could pursue the dream of becoming professional footballers. But at the same time, they also instilled something deeper in us, like respect for the game, adherence to football's values—not just making us understand the game from a player's perspective, but also teaching us to think about football from a coach's perspective. So I'm very grateful for everything they did. I believe many more talented individuals will emerge from there in the future. We're certainly not the only group, and it's a great honor for us to have achieved this position today.

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

It's simply incredible. We used to play on the same team, train together, compete against each other. And in an instant, we're all managing in the best league in the world. We're managing the world's top clubs and we'll face off against each other on the pitch. So I feel incredibly proud.

Many people now look at the manager at the top, and that person is you. So where does the top manager draw inspiration from? Where do you find your inspiration?

There are many sources. My family, my players, coaching staff, other managers, other sports, even other industries, and so on. Because we know that football is constantly evolving, the entire industry is also undergoing continuous change, and the demands and expectations on the pitch are getting higher and higher. You must strive to find that better version of yourself to build the best Arsenal club we can have. That's our objective.

Finally, I want to talk to you about your holiday. Do you feel rejuvenated? Did you grill a lot during this break, like you did when you were at Manchester City?

It was indeed a great summer. The first few days after the penalty shootout loss in the Champions League final were very difficult, and it took me some time to get over it. However, after that, I enjoyed a longer holiday than usual. I had enough time to think about the club's future direction and reflect on myself. Yes, I enjoyed that time. But in the final weeks of the break, I felt butterflies in my stomach, eager to get back on the pitch, get everything in order, and see the boys again.

Traduzido por IA.

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