Mikel Arteta reveals fresh Arsenal demands amid ambitious transfer push | OneFootball

Gunners boss explains how club can rise to “different dimension” after title glory

Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to go to "a different dimension" this season after winning the Premier League title.

The Gunners ended their 22-year wait to be domestic champions last season, finally climbing to the summit after three consecutive seasons of finishing second under Arteta.

Speaking after the club's Champions League final defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in May, Arteta called for Arsenal to be ambitious in the transfer market as they attempt to now kick on.

Arsenal are interested in a sensational move for Vinicius Junior, though that relies on the Brazilian deciding against signing a contract extension at Real Madrid.

There is also still interest in Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, while Arsenal remain determined to reach an agreement to sign Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle.

That is the calibre of player Arteta wants to bring to the club as he attempts to ensure Arsenal remain at the top of the table.

"This has to be the start and this has to be the standard," Arteta told the Arsenal app.

Back to work: Mikel Arteta puts Arsenal through their paces during pre-season training in Spain

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"Excellence has to be our standard and this has to drive to attack the future. The way we behave daily with more and more determination and ambition because we've shown that we've got it.

"Now we have to show that we belong to this level and we want to increase and take this football club to a different dimension."

Arsenal are favourites to win the Premier League title again and will also be eyeing another deep run in the Champions League.

Speaking ahead of his side's first pre-season match in front of fans this weekend against Girona in Spain, Arteta was asked what his ambitions were for the season ahead.

"My ambition is that daily we nail the standards and the requirements on the day to be better the following day," he replied.

"That is the thing that we have to control. And maintaining that ambition, that discipline, that commitment and that positive energy through 11 months. That is the responsibility that we all have.

A day that I will never forget in my life

Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s trophy parade

"If we all achieve that, we are going to be in a really strong position in May."

Arteta is still without many of his first-team players who were given an extended break after the World Cup.

Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice are among those yet to return for pre-season and decisions will be made on how to manage their fitness when they join up with the squad.

Arteta has not seen those players since Arsenal's trophy parade at the end of last season, when hundreds of thousands of supporters lined the streets of north London.

"Probably the best football experience that I’ve had," Arteta reflected.

"It puts it probably at the highest level, higher than any other trophy that I've won or moment that I've had.

"Because it tells a story and it tells the evolution of a club that was in a difficult position at many levels and was lacking a connection between the club, the supporters, the purpose, the identity and what we actually wanted to achieve.