Mikel Arteta unique interview: Arsenal supervisor on his continued want to dig for Premier League gold

Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta has reiterated his want to “dig for gold” this season within the Premier League and feels the membership are able to go to the subsequent degree.

The Spaniard is coming into his fifth full season in north London and is trying to finish Arsenal’s 22-year anticipate a top-flight title – after runners-up finishes in every of the final three years.

The Gunners, who host Leeds on Saturday dwell on Sky Sports activities, have misplaced out in three successive title races – twice to Man Metropolis and as soon as to Liverpool final season – however began this marketing campaign on a profitable observe with a gritty 1-0 win at Manchester United.

Talking to Sky Sports activities Information’ Gary Cotterill, Arteta stated: “We now have discovered a whole lot of gold in the previous couple of seasons with a whole lot of the issues that we have performed.

“Remember that. We have not gained the massive prize, however we bought a whole lot of prizes in that journey, working all collectively right here to carry the membership the place it’s. Beginning to play in competitions that for seven, eight years that weren’t a part of this soccer membership.

“So we haven’t won the big one, but we continue to dig.”

When requested if ending second within the Premier League and making the Champions League semi-finals is like discovering gold, he replied: “It is, but we want much more. That’s the ambition.”

Within the final three seasons, no crew has picked up extra Premier League factors than the Gunners – with Arteta regularly saying the one factor left for Arsenal to do is to win a trophy.

He added: “I think we are showing what we want, is to go to the next level, to go to the next step, show the right level of ambition. We want to improve in every department, we want to improve the squad, we want to improve facilities, we want to improve our way of playing.

“The whole lot that we will be higher at, we will do it. And I feel the possession, they have been unimaginable the final yr since I arrived right here, to point out that ambition, to push the boat ahead and to all collectively attempt to win many trophies.”

Arsenal have been busy available in the market with six new signings totalling £200m in switch charges with Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke all secured, with Eberechi Eze additionally ready within the wings in a deal from Crystal Palace.

The squad is now filled with depth in each place however does Arteta suppose he has bought too many gamers?

“No, I don’t think so,” he stated.

“I think we have done what we have to do. I think we need to understand the background of certain players, the history of the players instead of availability, which has been a massive issue because we are bringing four or five players in last season with long-term injuries and we have to see.

“How the squad seems on August 22 shouldn’t be vital. It is September, October, November, February, March and particularly April and Could – we now have realized that over the previous couple of years and that is the place we wish to come on actually robust with everyone at it and match. You wish to compete in each competitors and also you wish to have high quality accessible in each competitors and, after all, additionally you might want to keep as a lot as you possibly can injury-free.”