Arteta not worried about being considered favourites

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Just Arsenal News

·19 August 2026

Arteta not worried about being considered favourites

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal can deal with the pressure of being considered Premier League title favourites this season after they became champions last term.

The Gunners are one of the clubs that have performed well in recent times, and at the end of last term, they ended two decades of hurt by becoming champions.

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Before that, they had finished second for three consecutive campaigns, so it was only a matter of time before they eventually won the title.

Now that they have achieved that goal, much is expected from them, and fans are keen to see how they will perform in the seasons ahead.

Arsenal Ready for Greater Expectations

Arteta has done well to show that he is one of the managers to trust, and the club expect his team to continue making progress despite the pressure they will face while defending the title.

However, many people would believe it is easier to defend the title than to win it for the first time in two decades, as Arsenal did last season.

The manager believes his players can handle the increased expectations and remain focused on improving. Rather than allowing their status as champions to create unnecessary pressure, Arteta wants the squad to concentrate on maintaining their desire to get better.

Speaking about the pressure, Arteta said via The Sun:

“I think this is part of our industry, and that’s OK.

“For me, it’s when I look into the eyes of my players and I see that fire, that desire and the will to be better every single day.

“That’s the only thing that I care about.”

Arteta Focused on Player Mentality

Arteta’s comments highlight the importance he places on the mentality within his squad. Winning the Premier League has changed the expectations around Arsenal, but he remains focused on the attitude of his players rather than outside opinions.

The Gunners now have the challenge of proving that their title success can be followed by further progress. Their previous campaigns showed they could consistently compete for the title, while last season finally saw them complete the job.

With Arsenal now under greater pressure to defend their title, Arteta will want his players to retain the hunger that helped them become champions. If they continue to show the desire he sees in them, he believes they can cope with the expectations that come with being favourites.

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