Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says they have belief ahead of new season

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta said they have the belief ahead of the new Premier League season. The Gunners finished the previous season in the second place, with 74 points, 10 points behind champions, Liverpool.

Arsenal have added players like forward Viktor Gyökeres, midfielders Martín Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard, centre-back Cristhian Mosquera as well as winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea ahead of the new season.

The Spaniard said they have strengthened their team and have the players to take them to glory.

“These new arrivals all add quality and depth to the squad, which is what we are going to need throughout the season ahead,” Arteta wrote in his programme notes ahead of Wednesday night’s friendly against Villarreal.

“We know what our targets are and what we want to achieve this season — there is a big belief in our ability to achieve that.

“We have been very, very close the last few seasons and the whole team is going to determine whether we achieve that or not.

“But at the same time, we have to make sure that we don’t lose sight of what we have to do on a daily basis to get to the levels that we want.

“We have to set the demands that we want within this goal, because that’s the most important thing — the internal demands have to always exceed any external demand. That is what we are trying to achieve every single day.”

In the last three seasons, Arsenal has finished in second place and haven’t been able to get over the line despite being close.

“We have to do that all together, with you, our supporters as well,” Arteta added.

“That is another reason why these two games at home are so important. Let’s show that energy from the first moment.

“We want our people to start connecting with our players straight away, to start to build momentum and to start to feel that at home we are invincible — that we play here with such passion, energy and connection with our people, that we are going to win the game.”

Arsenal will begin their Premier League campaign against Manchester United at Old Trafford on 17th August.