Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted that his team are their own biggest danger in the Premier League this season. The Gunners are the reigning champions, seeking to retain the league title for the first time since 1935.
Arsenal's Title Defence and Squad Improvements
Arsenal finally broke their duck last term and claimed the title by seven points. Ahead of attempting to defend the crown, they sent a clear warning to their rivals with a 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield. Arteta has improved his squad by adding Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis, whilst the club are closing in on a move for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa.
The Gunners, who begin their top-flight campaign against Coventry City on Friday, also boast greater stability than their potential title rivals. City have replaced Pep Guardiola with Enzo Maresca. Andoni Iraola is the new Liverpool boss. Xabi Alonso has taken the reins at Chelsea and Michael Carrick was named permanent Manchester United manager towards the end of last season.
Arteta's Focus on Internal Improvement
When asked to name his team's biggest challenger, Arteta told Men in Blazers: "Ourselves. I think, when I see the margins that we have to improve and be better, it's on us. That's how we prepare and evolve our club, our team, our squad."
"Looking after the things that we control and we want to do. Because unfortunately, I wish, but I cannot make decisions to influence negatively what other clubs can do," Arteta added.
Discussing the possibility of using the club's stability to their advantage, the Arsenal boss said: "I think we have to create the opportunity, not what happens around us. I think the opportunity has to be created with what we do daily, to earn the right to be better than the rest."
Childhood Friends Turned Rivals
After ending the club's 22-year wait for a league title, Arteta could achieve a feat not seen at Arsenal in close to a century by successfully defending the Premier League title. In his youth, Arteta played alongside Iraola and Alonso, with the trio now taking charge of three of the top-flight's biggest clubs.
"The three of us used to play together, so it's something phenomenal," Arteta said. "That we used to live five minutes away from each other, play for the same team and now manage three different Premier League clubs at the highest level. It's just remarkable."
"I wish them all the best, except against us because we know how it is, but it makes me really proud. Obviously, we have talked with both of them and I think we are feeling the same way: extremely proud but then there is this rivalry and everybody has to look after their club," he added.
