Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has returned from his summer break with renewed energy and an even greater ambition, declaring that last season’s Premier League triumph must become the foundation for sustained success rather than the destination.
Just two months after leading the Gunners to their first league title in over two decades, Arteta has rejoined his squad in Spain for the opening phase of pre-season preparations.
With a friendly against Girona approaching, the Arsenal boss believes the hunger within his squad remains as strong as ever.
Rather than celebrating last season’s achievements, Arteta’s message is clear: Arsenal must raise the bar once again.
Having witnessed his players report back for pre-season, Arteta admitted he was immediately struck by their mentality and physical condition.
The Spaniard believes the commitment shown by the squad reflects the winning culture that has been carefully built over recent seasons.
“First of all (I saw) the energy in the bodies, in their eyes, how they look. And then the players, it was incredible – the shape that they have all come back, better than ever,” said Arteta.
“That tells you the direction that we want to seek and the culture that we have set. Then the way they are training, the questions that they ask you, the direction that they want to take. They are all super powerful signs.
“It’s great to see everybody again with the same spirit after such a big season. To see everybody coming back in the building with such energy and desire to go again is really touching.”
Arteta described last season’s title celebrations as the greatest football experience of his career, but insists the focus has already shifted firmly towards defending the crown.
The Arsenal boss believes winning the Premier League has changed expectations inside the club.Instead of viewing success as a one-off achievement, Arteta wants excellence to become the benchmark that drives every training session, every performance and every season.
“One hundred per cent. This has to be the start and this has to be the standard. 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.”
Those words underline Arsenal’s determination to establish themselves among Europe’s elite rather than simply defending domestic honours.
With several Arsenal players involved at the FIFA World Cup, Arteta confirmed that the squad is returning in carefully managed phases.
Different fitness programmes have been designed depending on how long each player remained at the tournament, but the manager believes attitude matters far more than scheduling.
“It is all programmed. We have three different pre-seasons with different groups. But the most important thing is not the programme, it is the attitude behind the programme.
“When I speak to Kai, he is desperate to come back tomorrow and Viktor the same and Piero the same. And when I speak to Declan, he is already talking, ‘OK, if I come this day, then I can play (then)’, and the rest the same. And that is much more powerful than the programme.
“We want to adapt to the context, which is different. There are a lot of opportunities within them because most of them have great experiences throughout the tournament and have really positive performances this past season as well.”
Arsenal have already strengthened their squad with the arrivals of goalkeeper Illan Meslier and winger Christos Tzolis, but Arteta hinted that further additions remain a priority before the transfer window closes.
The manager acknowledged that extensive work is continuing behind the scenes as the club seeks to improve every area of the squad.
“A lot is happening. We all know about the context of this transfer window. From ownership to the board, the sporting director and myself, we know that we want to take this club to a different level.
“That is going to require a better squad, better individuals. We have identified where we have opportunities to grow and to improve and to evolve our game and what is going to be needed to achieve that. Hopefully very soon we can start to put things in a very concrete way.”
The comments suggest Arsenal’s business is far from complete as they prepare for another demanding campaign across multiple competitions.
Arteta reserved some of his strongest praise for Arsenal supporters, insisting their connection with the team played a genuine role in last season’s success.
He even highlighted the famous north London derby tifo as an example of how every supporter contributes to the club’s winning culture.
“Connection is the word. It is the connection and the fact that everybody feels that they are contributing to increasing the winning probability.
“I was just having an interview with the guys that designed and delivered the Tifo, for the north London derby. I mean, that Tifo helped us win. Whoever is designing and taking the pictures and building it, has to feel that way, because it does have an impact.
“And my body language and my energy in the stadium and the way I communicate with the person next to me, it has an impact. We have seen the impact of one and a half million people together.
“So that is the biggest superpower that we have in this football club. It is how attached we feel to it, the identity that we have created and how we feel about each other. And that has to be translated every opportunity that we have to be together.”
Arteta concluded by reminding everyone that sustained success is built through consistency rather than isolated moments.
“My ambition is that daily we nail the standards and the requirements on the day to be better the following day. 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. If we all achieve that, we are going to be in a really strong position in May.”
As Arsenal begin preparations for the 2026/27 campaign, Arteta’s message is unmistakable. Winning the Premier League was only the beginning.
The challenge now is to transform success into a lasting legacy, with standards, unity and relentless ambition driving the club towards an even greater future.
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