Arteta: We must strive for near-perfection to overcome Man City for the title

Mikel Arteta acknowledges that Arsenal will need to reach near-perfect levels in their pursuit of Manchester City if they are to finally lift the Premier League trophy after a long drought. Despite a record-breaking 2023/24 season, in which the Gunners secured more wins than ever before in the Premier League, they still fell short in the title race.

Manchester City edged Arsenal out by just two points, clinching the title on the final day with a victory over West Ham, making Arsenal's triumph over Everton on the same day inconsequential. Ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Wolves on Saturday, Arteta was questioned about what it will take for his team to finally dethrone City after finishing as runners-up for two consecutive seasons.

Arteta emphasized that his team will need to reach unprecedented levels of performance to end City's four-year reign at the top of English football.

"Break more of those records again, earn more points, for sure," the Spaniard said.

"It (89 points) won't be enough. With the level we are competing with and every season is getting harder, we are going to have to improve again.

"I don't know what perfect is but it has to be very close to the numbers that we've seen in recent years."

While Arteta admitted he wasn’t sure what “perfect” looks like, he insisted that the standard required must come close to the exceptional levels set by teams in recent years. Arsenal last won the Premier League title during the 2003-04 season when Arsene Wenger’s 'Invincibles' went the entire campaign unbeaten. But the close calls of the past two years have only strengthened the team's hunger for success.

Arteta took great encouragement from the attitude of his players during an end-of-season event in London, where they expressed their determination to catch up with City.

"We had a gathering together with all the club players and the players were saying to me, 'We're going to be better, we're going to do it, we want more'," Arteta said.

"They are the ones driving that ambition, so that's always positive.

"It's like you're trying to climb the highest mountain, the most difficult leap in the world and you're surrounded by people trying to achieve the same ambition. We're certainly going to try."

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Italy international Riccardo Calafiori, signed from Bologna during the summer, could make his debut against Wolves, although Japan’s Takehiro Tomiyasu is set to miss out due to a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Arteta remained tight-lipped on reports linking Arsenal with a move for Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino before the transfer window closes.

"You know that I cannot talk about any other player," he said. "After the season we had two objectives.

"The main one and the most important one is to make sure that we still are very much in love with our players and find ways to improve them.

"Then ok, if there are certain opportunities in the market to improve the squad we have to look at that.

"While the market is open, things can happen. That's always a possibility."

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1

Friday

Man.Utd. - Fulham 1-0 (0-0)

/Zirkzee 87/

Saturday

14:30: (8.50) Ipswich (5.50) Liverpool (1.33)

17:00: (1.22) Arsenal (7.25) Wolverhampton (15.0)

17:00: (2.70) Everton (3.15) Brighton (2.75)

17:00: (1.40) Newcastle (4.80) Southampton (7.75)

17:00: (2.45) Nott.Forest (3.40) Bournemouth (2.85)

19:30: (2.50) West Ham (3.45) Aston Villa (2.75)

Sunday

16:00: (2.55) Brentford (3.35) Crystal Palace (2.75)

18:30: (4.20) Chelsea (3.80) Man.City (1.90)

Monday

22:00: (5.20) Leicester (4.00) Tottenham (1.65)

***odds are subject to change***