Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has sent a clear warning to the rest of English and European football, insisting the Gunners are not satisfied with ending their long wait for the Premier League title.
Instead, the German international says the club is determined to chase every major honour available during the 2026/27 campaign.
After finally ending a 22-year wait for the English crown last season, Arsenal head into the new campaign with renewed confidence and even bigger ambitions.
While lifting the Premier League trophy represented a historic achievement, the North London side came agonisingly close to completing an unforgettable double after losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in the UEFA Champions League final.
Havertz, who found the net in that European final, believes the disappointment has only strengthened Arsenal’s desire to return stronger this season.
“We want all the trophies,” he said. “That’s what we’re here for. We won the Premier League now but there’s a lot more that we can do.
“We have to reach another level to make that happen because we know how long the season is and how hard it is to go through all the competitions. We want to do it better again this year and make things happen again.”
Winning the Premier League was a defining moment for Mikel Arteta’s side, but retaining the title presents an entirely different challenge.
History is not on Arsenal’s side, as the club has never successfully defended the Premier League crown. However, the mentality inside the dressing room appears to have shifted.
Rather than celebrating last season’s success, the players are already focused on building a legacy.
Several title rivals have strengthened significantly during the transfer window, with Manchester City and Chelsea making major investments to reinforce their squads.
Arsenal, meanwhile, continue to explore opportunities to add more quality before the transfer window closes.
The club has already welcomed Greek winger Christos Tzolis, who wasted little time making an impression by scoring in Arsenal’s impressive 4-1 pre-season victory over Girona.
Havertz was also on the scoresheet in that encounter, further underlining his importance to Arteta’s plans.
Reports continue to link Arsenal with Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, a move that would represent one of the biggest transfers in European football should negotiations progress.
Despite last season’s achievements, Havertz insists Arsenal cannot afford complacency.
The German believes every successful team must continuously evolve, especially when rivals are investing heavily to close the gap.
“I think we can, or we have to go further,” Havertz continued.
“You see especially other teams getting better, so we have to step up another level again. I think that’s what we’re all here for, that’s what we train for.
“We want to start strong and reach our goals this season again.”
Those comments reflect the culture Arteta has built at the Emirates Stadium, where continuous improvement has become a central philosophy.
Rather than dwelling on last season’s success, Arsenal are approaching the new campaign with the mindset of challengers rather than champions.
The Gunners’ preparations continue with optimism as they fine-tune their squad ahead of another demanding season.
Their first opportunity to secure silverware arrives in the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 16 before they officially begin the defence of their Premier League title against Coventry City five days later.
With confidence high, squad depth improving and expectations rising, Arsenal enter the 2026/27 season knowing they are no longer outsiders.
If Havertz’s words are any indication, settling for just one trophy is no longer enough.
The ambition inside the Emirates is simple: compete on every front and fight until the final whistle of the season.
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