Mikel Arteta 'respects' Jurgen Klopp opinion on Manchester City, reveals what Arsenal must do to mount title bid
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Updated 04/08/2023 at 19:20 GMT
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that he can "respect" his Liverpool peer Jurgen Klopp's belief that Manchester City are runaway favourites for the 2023/24 Premier League title, but he nevertheless hopes he can improve his Arsenal side sufficiently to make them serious contenders for a trophy that they fell agonisingly short of last term. Arsenal's first Premier League game is live on TNT Sports.
Arteta 'very excited' to play 'against team to beat' Man City in Community Shield
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he has "respect" for Jurgen Klopp’s belief that the Premier League is a one-horse race this season, but the Spaniard hopes to improve his side sufficiently to challenge Manchester City.
Arsenal, who play their first Premier League game of the season against Nottingham Forest live on TNT Sports, led the way in the league for most of the 2022/23 season, but their title challenge faltered at the business end of term as Pep Guardiola’s men overtook the North London side and clinched the title by five points.
The margin of victory demonstrated just how imperious City looked towards the season’s close, as they then went on to complete a Treble-winning campaign.
Arteta has spent heavily in the close season, adding Declan Rice for a club record £105 million fee from West Ham, Kai Havertz from Chelsea and Ajax defender Jurrien Timber to his squad, with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya expected to sign in the next week.
Recently, Liverpool manager Klopp suggested that City are out on their own as favourites for the forthcoming season’s tilt at the Premier League.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Sunday's Community Shield with Man City at Wembley, Arteta said: “I respect that [Klopp's view on City].
"They’ve shown their consistency over the years and they merit that respect from everybody for what they’ve done.
“If you want to challenge for that championship then there’s 12 points that you’re going to be needing and that’s how it’s been in this league for the last 100 years. So that’s the standard and if you want to be there, you know what you have to do.”
Discussing the requirements for an improvement on last season’s haul, Arteta added: “This is what we want, to be on every front fighting for trophies, and being as a club, in every front to try and be the best.
"We have to prove that what we did last year was something, but it wasn’t enough to win the biggest trophy and the one we were looking after.
“We have to be better and that comes every day with trying to be better, making better decisions and playing better, and deserving to win the game. In the end, the outcome will come by itself.”
Meanwhile, Arteta said he is "very excited" to get the season underway on Sunday, and shared a further update on Gabriel Jesus' knee injury.
"Very excited to play a final and to have the option to win a trophy," he said.
"We're playing against a team that is the team to beat, is the best team in Europe last season. We know what the standards are and what we're going to need to win the game, but I'm really excited."
On Jesus, he said: "He's fine. He's obviously disappointed because he was feeling good and then this issue came up that nobody expected.
"We had to do a little procedure there but unfortunately it was the best thing to do and the quicker the better. We made that decision. I'm sure he will be back soon and very fit."
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Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal during a training session at the LA Rams Training Facility on July 25, 2023 in Thousands Oaks, California.
Image credit: Getty Images
Arteta also refused to rule out the prospect of adding further signings to his squad.
"Well, we are in the process... We are working on a few things," he said.
"We have to make a few decisions. [There] is still time to do that, [but] we are very happy with the squad that we have, that's for sure.
"Now, we have to make sure that we can share the minutes in the right way for the team to have a healthy competition within the squad, and we are working on that."
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