Man City are the ‘team to beat’, says Arteta

Arsenal are determined to fight for all trophies in the new season as the Premier League runners-up begin their 2023-24 campaign against treble winners Manchester City in the Community Shield, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday.
Arsenal’s title challenge crumbled last season in the face of a relentless City, who have won three successive top-flight titles before winning their maiden Champions League crown in June. Arsenal enjoyed an eight-point lead over City until mid-March but lost it at the end of April and will now look to seek revenge in tomorrow’s traditional curtain-raiser to the Premier League season at Wembley.
Arteta, 41, served as assistant to Pep Guardiola at City from 2016-2019 before taking the reins at the north London club and leading them to the FA Cup trophy in his first season in charge. Since then, he has helped Arsenal qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. Arteta said he wants his team to build on the momentum from last season and elevate it to new heights.
“Very excited to play a final to win a trophy, we are playing against the team to beat,” Arteta told reporters. “This is what we want (a new era for Arsenal), fighting for every trophy. We have to prove that. What we did last year was not enough to win the big trophy, and we have to be better. We have to try and maintain the level and improve it for them (fans).”
Arsenal have already added more depth to their young squad with the additions of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber in the close season, but Arteta said the work is not over as he looks to bolster his team’s chances. Arsenal have most recently been linked with a move for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya.
“We are in the process (of squad building) We are working on a few things - there is still time to do that. We are happy with the squad we have for sure,” Arteta said. “We want a healthy competition in the squad and we’re working on that.”
Arsenal in better position than City, says Guardiola
Arsenal hold an advantage heading into the Community Shield over Manchester City due to the treble winner’s packed schedule during the final stretch of the last season, manager Pep Guardiola said yesterday. City faced a gruelling schedule season thanks to their successful runs in the Champions League and FA Cup, while Arsenal had a less busy campaign.
“The situation that we are in, we finished (last season) two weeks later than Arsenal and we start (this season) two weeks later. So, we are not in the best way,” the Spaniard told reporters. “We struggle to restart every season but it’s fine, and hopefully our mentality can help us to be there and compete.”
Arsenal are looking to close the gap at the top of the league, and Guardiola believes the north London side has recruited players who could walk straight into the starting line-up. The signings of Rice from West Ham United, Havertz from rivals Chelsea and defender Timber from Ajax Amsterdam have strengthened Arsenal’s core.
“Rice decided to go to Arsenal, I wish him all the best. He is a really nice guy, for the England team he is important. Arsenal have bought a really good player,” Guardiola said. “They didn’t buy players to make the squad bigger, they have bought starting players. I could not expect anything different.”
Guardiola reiterated his desire to keep England defender Kyle Walker, who has a year left on his City contract, amid interest from German giants Bayern Munich. Bernardo Silva is another one of Guardiola’s key players who is linked with a move away from the club, with LaLiga champions Barcelona reported to be potential suitors for the Portuguese midfielder.
“Kyle and Bernardo, what could I say? They are so important for us. We want them, (so) we are going to do everything (to keep them). We want (Silva) to stay because he wants to stay,” Guardiola said.
Guardiola said Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol, who is set to join City from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, is undergoing his medical test.