Arteta insists Arsenal must start from scratch to defend Premier League crown
The Gunners' manager rejects reliance on rivals' results, prioritising internal control and renewed ambition following their recent Community Shield victory.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has declared that the club must approach the new season as if starting from zero, a stance that underscores the institutional challenge of defending a recently won Premier League title. Speaking via France24, Arteta emphasised that the squad must prove they are at the level required to return to the top of English football, rather than resting on the laurels of their previous summer's success.
The manager expressed a clear preference for Arsenal to be the hunted team, a position that places the club in control of its own future. Arteta stated that he would rather depend on his own players' performance than rely on the results of other clubs, a strategic choice that shifts the psychological burden of the title race onto the champions themselves.
This declaration follows a dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield, where goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard marked Manchester City's first competitive match under new manager Enzo Maresca. The result provided a tangible benchmark for the squad's current form, offering a foundation upon which Arteta can build his narrative of continuous improvement.
Arteta noted that the club has improved every season since his arrival, culminating in the league title won just a few months ago. However, he warned that the path to retaining the trophy will not be easy, as rivals have strengthened their squads in the transfer window to mount a credible challenge. The Gunners have also made their own additions to maintain stability, but the manager insists that external reinforcements are secondary to the internal drive of the existing core.
The emphasis on "desire and ambition" suggests a governance-focused approach to squad management, where individual performance metrics are tied to a collective need to exceed last season's standards. Arteta's comments indicate that the club is preparing for a season where every opponent will be motivated to beat them, requiring a consistent display of quality to remain at the top.
By framing the defence of the title as a fresh start, Arteta aims to reset the team's expectations and focus. The manager believes that embracing the pressure of being champions is preferable to the uncertainty of chasing, a perspective that aligns with the club's long-term trajectory of sustained development.
