Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that his players are hungry for redemption and have been plotting their Premier League title challenge since the final day of last season.

This comes as Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits his squad is still not in peak condition due to a shortened pre-season.

PLOT OF GOLD Arteta says Gunners started planning to win title on final day of last season Daily Mirror17 Aug 2024BY NEIL McLEMAN @NeilMcLeman MIKEL ARTETA has revealed Arsenal’s devastated players started plotting to go one better and win the Premier League this season on the final day of the last campaign. The Gunners took the title race to the final day in May but finished two points behind Manchester City. It was the second consecutive season the North London club had finished runner-up to Pep Guardiola’s side. After the closing home win over Everton, Arsenal players, staff, their families and owner Josh Kroenke all met to celebrate the season in a Central London restaurant. And before today’s season opener against Wolves, the Spanish manager said his squad had been hungry to get back to action ever since. “We had a gathering together the same evening 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’,” said Arteta, “They are the ones driving that ambition. So that’s always positive. “Everybody was talking about the same thing, that we are not going to stop here and that we want much more. “We know the things that we can still do better and how the players can still evolve. How we have evolved as a club is huge as well. “Whether it is pain, whether there are experiences, whether there are moments where you have to accept that somebody else has been better and this is sport. And you want to get to where you aren’t at the moment, and that as well is really inspiring.” Asked what keeps him motivated to finally beat his former club Manchester City, Arteta added: “Looking around and the people that I work with every single day. They are ready and they bring ideas. “They are so willing to work. They are ruthless about the vision that we have and what we want to achieve. “Then the players, their ability to put a smile on my face no matter what happens. “They make me enjoy my job and that’s the biggest motivation. I am very excited about the title challenge. “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 gonna try.” Arsenal have signed Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori for £42million from Bologna while negotiations continue with Real Sociedad over Spain midfielder Mikel Merino. “After the season we had two objectives,” Arteta said. “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.’’ Article Name:PLOT OF GOLD Publication:Daily Mirror Author:BY NEIL McLEMAN @NeilMcLeman Start Page:64 End Page:64. PEP: PLAYERS STILL TIRED BUT I DEMAND THAT THEY’RE READY Daily Mirror17 Aug 2024BY DAVID ANDERSON PEP GUARDIOLA has warned his undercooked Manchester City stars they have to be ready for the defence of their Premier League title. In what could be Guardiola’s final season at the Etihad, City begin their quest for a fifth successive title at Chelsea tomorrow. Guardiola admits some of his players are not in peak condition because he insisted they take a longer break before embarking on their marathon 47-week campaign, culminating in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup next summer. But he says they have to be ready for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge because they cannot afford to drop any points in what could be another tight title race. “We prioritise rest, absolutely,” said the City boss. “I would love to give them even more time, but it is what it is. I demand the best on Sunday against Chelsea. “We know we have to take points as soon as possible and until the players are fitter and in better physical condition, we have to be ready. “We have to be ready, we have to. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Everybody knows we’re not in the best condition, but it doesn’t matter. “I don’t think there’re a lot of teams right now that are perfect. I’m pretty sure I’ve learnt from my experience of many years the season is so long. “It’s important the players are ready mentally and for that you need rest.” City will be without Spanish Euro 2024 winner Rodri, who is ERLI WARNING Erling Haaland scores against Chelsea in a pre-season friendly in the USA building up his fitness, while Kyle Walker, Phil Foden and John Stones should be in their matchday squad, despite only returning to training this week. “They’ve just had two or three training sessions,” said Guardiola. “We’ll see, but I’m pretty sure they’re ready, maybe not 90 minutes, but for a few minutes.” Jack Grealish is back training after being injured in the Community Shield win against Manchester United and could start against Chelsea. Guardiola will also face his old No 2 Enzo Maresca again after beating Chelsea on tour in the US and he urged the trigger-happy Blues to give him time. Maresca became Chelsea’s fourth permanent manager when the Italian was appointed in July, having won the Championship with Leicester, and Guardiola says he will succeed if they stick with him. “My advice is give him time,” he said. “My advice for the owners at Chelsea is give him time and it will work. “All the managers need time, right? I don’t know if Chelsea is the place is to do the deals, but give him time and it will work, that’s my feeling.” Maresca was City’s Under-21s boss before becoming Guardiola’s right-hand man for their treble-winning season and the Catalan says all his success since is down to him. When asked if some of his magic had rubbed off on Maresca, Guardiola joked: “I’d like to say yes, but I don’t think so. The job that Enzo has done at Leicester belongs absolutely to him, his staff and his players. “Leicester were promoted to the Premier League again and my influence was zero, zero.” Article Name:PEP: PLAYERS STILL TIRED BUT I DEMAND THAT THEY’RE READY Publication:Daily Mirror Author:BY DAVID ANDERSON Start Page:63 End Page:63
Daily Mirror 17 August 2024

Arteta’s Gunners narrowly missed out on the title last year, finishing just two points behind City. The Spaniard believes his team has significant room for improvement and is motivated by his players’ determination to go one step further this season.

“We had a gathering together the same evening 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.

Meanwhile, Guardiola has conceded that his Manchester City players are not yet at their physical best due to a focus on rest after a long and demanding 2023/24 season. “We know we have to take points as soon as possible and until the players are fitter and in better physical condition, we have to be ready,” Guardiola said.

This could provide an early opening for Arsenal, who appear to be in top form heading into the new season. Arteta’s side has already strengthened their squad with the addition of defender Riccardo Calafiori and are reportedly close to signing midfielder Mikel Merino.

With Manchester City potentially vulnerable in the early stages of the season, Arsenal will be eager to capitalise and make a strong start to their title challenge. The Gunners kick off their campaign against Wolves today, while City face a tough test against Chelsea on Sunday.

The stage is set for an exciting Premier League season, with Arsenal hoping to take advantage of any slip-ups from the reigning champions. As Arteta’s men aim to fulfil their title ambitions, the battle between the two giants promises to be fierce.