Mikel Arteta speaks out on Arsenal’s nightmare start to new Premier League season

Mikel Arteta is currently in Marbella ahead of Arsenal’s pre-season campaign (Picture: ESPN)

Mikel Arteta insists he is relishing the start to the new Premier League season, despite Arsenal having been handed a nightmare set of fixtures.

The Gunners missed out on the title in agonising circumstances last term on the final day as Manchester City swept to an unprecedented fourth consecutive triumph.

Arsenal will look to strengthen in the coming weeks as the transfer window hots up and enhance a squad that pushed Pep Guardiola’s relentless winning machine all the way.

Italy international defender Riccardo Calafiori looks destined to join from Bologna while David Raya’s loan move from Brentford has now been confirmed as a permanent deal.

Arteta is likely to focus on bolstering his midfield and forward line in what remains of the transfer window ahead of the big kick-off on August 17.

The north London club begin their campaign with a home game against Wolves before facing Aston Villa, City and Spurs, all away from home, before the end of September.

‘I like playing the first game at home, that’s for sure,’ Arteta told ESPN when asked how he viewed what, on paper at least, looks like a daunting run of games.

Arsenal will face title rivals Man City in their fifth game of the new season (Picture: Getty)

‘I think everybody is looking forward to that. It is going to be a special day in the new season, starting with that level of energy and expectations.

‘Obviously we are going to be very well prepared for that one. Then in the Premier League you have to play against everybody.

‘It looks tough but if you put it in any other way, it looks tough as well. We are going to have to go through that. We have to be prepared because [the games are] going to come very thick and fast.’

With so many players away on international duty at Euro 2024, Arteta faces the added complication of having to ease the likes of Bukayo Saka and William Saliba back into the first team picture after their grueling summer schedules.

‘I think we’ve done a lot of planning with what we believe is the best plan for them and the best preparation to be fully ready when the whistle goes on the first day at the Emirates against Wolves [on Aug. 17],’ said Arteta.

‘We are going to have to tweak things for sure and adapt because players are going to come in at stages at the moment which are a bit uncertain, physically, mentally.

‘But if you think the players are always connected, they are willing to come back, excited for the new season and when you have that feeling I think something positive will happen again.’

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