**Arsenal**are less than a fortnight away from their first fixture of the Premier League campaign. The standards have risen at the club, but questions remain whether the Gunners can grasp the accolades to satisfy supporters. Mikel Arteta has no such doubts: he has said that the squad "know what our targets are" and he is confident the camp can achieve them with the help of some reinforcements.
‘This knowledge and experience goes into our database’
**Arsenal**have mostly had happy results to write home about this preseason, even if the performances have not been the most inspiring. A win over **Watford**in a private friendly preceded a 1-0 victory over **AC Milan**and a 3-2 triumph over Newcastle United. Bragging rights went to **Tottenham**in the first foreign North London derby, but the manager is still content with how the preparation has gone.
*“We know what we want from pre-season, which is why we have planned the schedule like this. First we played Watford at Sobha, then we went to Singapore to play against AC Milan and Newcastle, before facing Tottenham in Hong Kong. We've been changing conditions, changing contexts, and now we are playing at home against two teams preparing to be in the Champions League this season.”*
**Villarreal**are the next opponent on their fixture list. The Spanish side sat level with Athletic Club on 70 points last season, and both camps will compete in the Champions League. Marcelino and his standard 4-4-2 system will put a twist on a familiar problem that the Gunners will face this campaign.
“Villarreal* play at the highest level. They have a manager in Marcelino who likes a specific type of system and formation we will find in the Premier League this season. We are also playing against Spanish opposition. That requires other things from us, and I expect these to be really good games.”*
Arteta explained how he identifies which clubs he would like his group to play against in preseason.
“I look at how the manager sets up his teams, how they coach their team, the kind of players they have, how they train different phases of play against different blocks. We have a very good mixture this preseason. The knowledge and experience we gain from these games goes into our database.”
The Spaniard spoke about what challenges he expects to encounter against the Yellow Submarine.
“Each game is going to demand something from you physically, and the spaces you have to attack or protect, and different ways they can play in their build-up as well. So we have to nail that and improve that, and playing against Villarreal will help that, so it’s a good game for us.”
Before the trip to **Old Trafford**on the opening matchday of the **Premier League**season, the Gunners get one more game in front of their fans this Saturday against Athletic Club. The manager outlined his hopes around building a bond between his players and the supporters at the Emirates Stadium.
“We want our people to start connecting with our players straight away to build momentum, to start to feel at home, we are invincible. That we play with passion, energy and connection with our people, that we’re going to win the game. Let’s bring that conviction to the stadium for these two matches.”
‘They are developing well’
These two clashes could also be the first time that fans get to see the summer signings in the flesh.
Before the end of July, **Arsenal**wrapped up the signing of six more men: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi, Cristhian Mosquera, Noni Madueke, and Viktor Gyökeres. It is early days, but Arteta is happy with the impact of all these arrivals on the squad.
“I know it’s going to be the first opportunity for many of you to see our new players in action as well, and we are all very excited about how the squad is shaping up. They have all brought new enthusiasm again, and injected it into the squad. It’s shaken things up. They’ve all been welcomed into the squad by the staff and other players in exactly the way that I expected. There have been no surprises there.”
**Andrea Berta**has received plaudits for acquiring the services of so many players so early in the window. The only man who has not touched the grass for the Gunners is Madueke, whom the club chose to give time to rest due to his participation in the **Club World Cup**with **Chelsea**last month.
“Many of these players were able to get some good minutes in their legs while we were out on pre-season tour in Singapore and Hong Kong, so they are developing well ahead of the new season.”
Three of the incomings are additions to the squad depth, but none of the deals were very costly, while **Kepa**and Norgaard also bring years of experience in English football. The much-maligned Madueke should be a better backup to Saka and could shake up the state of the left wing. Gyökeres is the striker that supporters have wanted, and Zubimendi is still one of the most highly rated sixes across Europe.
Arteta cannot afford a repeat of the injury woes of last year, and he sounds more secure in his options.
“These new arrivals all add quality and depth to the squad, which is what we are going to need through the season ahead. We know what our targets are and what we want to achieve this season.”
The 43-year-old is under the expectation to achieve. For three years in a row, the Gunners have not gone better than second place in the standings, and have gone five years without a major honour. However, he does not sense that the squad has lost the self-conviction that they can do big things.
“There is a big belief in our ability. We’ve been very, very close the last few seasons and the whole team is going to determine whether we achieve that or not. But at the same time, we have to make sure that we don’t lose sight of what we have to do on a daily basis to get to the levels that we want.”
The manager mentioned the role of the supporters in sustaining the belief ahead of a big campaign.
“We have to do that all together, with all of you, our supporters as well. That is another reason why these two games at home are so important. Let’s show that energy from the first moment."