26/08/2026
Arteta: Arsenal have never won back-to-back Premier League titles, this is our chance
an hour ago / autty
Arteta participated in the "Premier League Managers' Seat" program and discussed Arsenal's objectives for the new season.

Thank you very much for taking the time to be interviewed and to talk with us at Sup Sport. This is the first time in over two decades that we have interviewed an Arsenal manager who is also the reigning Premier League champion. How does it feel? And what are your thoughts on seeing the reactions of fans all over the world?
It feels better than I, or we, had initially imagined. It's been a journey, and along the way we've had many wonderful moments and, of course, some moments of doubt. When you work so hard and come so close to your goal but don't achieve it, that feeling can be cruel and difficult. But I think this time we enjoyed it even more because we felt we fought for it and did it our way. To see the connection between us and Arsenal fans worldwide, and to experience everything we felt in London, was truly amazing.
Now, as champions, what is the atmosphere like within the club? Very good. Obviously, immediately after winning the title, a strong desire arises within you—you want to go through that process again. We also understand what it takes to experience those emotions and feelings again. The key is what we do every day: the standards we set for ourselves, the club's undeniable ambition, and the attitude of all staff and players—pushing each other every day, moving towards our goal bit by bit, and striving to conquer it again.
Now that you've done it, the question everyone cares about most is: Can Arsenal defend their title? How would Mikel Arteta answer? We need to prove it now. As a club, Arsenal has never done it in its history, so this is the opportunity before us. We know what it takes and we know we have the ability to do it, but we must prove it on the pitch through our daily actions and habits, to show that we are truly focused and dedicated enough to achieve our goals.
After several seasons of coming very close, you finally crossed that hurdle. Will this make the new season easier? I think it will give us a clearer direction and strengthen our belief that we can do it. After that, everything is still a marathon. You have to start with preparations, challenge yourself day by day, and you will encounter many unexpected things along the way. You have to handle them naturally while maintaining the understanding that we still have the ability to do it.
When Arsenal won the championship last season, a notable feature was their style of play, and set pieces also played an important role. Can we expect to see the same things this season? We hope to be the best in every phase of the game. Last season, we were the best in many aspects across the league—not just set pieces, but many other areas—which is why our chances of winning increased. This season, we will continue to evolve, become better in other areas, and hope to maintain those areas where we are already very strong. You've added a few new faces to the team. What impact do you expect them to have?
I am very optimistic about them. The initial signs they showed during pre-season training were very promising. I think they will bring something to this team that was not in the squad before, and in my opinion, that is very necessary. Besides footballing ability, what else do you value when signing new players?
First and foremost, they have to be a good person. I believe they need to be able to strengthen our team culture, connect with others, have truly clear goals, understand why they are coming to this club, and understand what their ambitions are here. And then, of course, they must have the footballing ability to make us better, to make the players around them better, and to enhance the team's energy, leadership, and desire to win.
Let's talk about the entire Premier League. It feels like we're entering a new era, especially with so many managerial changes. For you, how does it feel to increasingly face managers you played against during your playing career? It's incredible. Life takes you to places and situations you never expected, and football is especially good at doing that—I've witnessed it in my own career. But now, especially with Ancelotti and Xavi, it truly feels incredible because we were in the same city back then, just 5 minutes apart, and now we're managing some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.
Yes, that's what I was about to say next. You made that club known to more people. First, tell us how this club shaped you as a player. Well, I think they deserve all the praise in the world because I think they ignited something in us—ignited a belief that we were good enough, that we could pursue the dream of becoming professional footballers. But beyond that, they also taught us more, such as respect for the game, the values of sport, and how to understand the game, not just from a player's perspective, but also from a coach's perspective. So, thank you very much for everything they did. I believe many more people will come out of there in the future, not just us. For us to have come this far is an honor.
