Arteta speak on Arsenal’s ambition to retain the EPL crown
By Luke Oluoch, August 19, 2026Mikel Arteta has laid out the Gunners’ ambition to retain their Premier League title ahead of the new 2026/27 season.
Arsenal will begin the defence of their Premier League title against Coventry on Friday, August 21, 2026.
The Gunners, who ended a 22-year wait for the title after last season’s triumph, will be looking to follow up last year’s run with another successful campaign.
Their season got off to a perfect start with a comfortable 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, August 16, 2026, further cementing their status as early favourites.
Arteta acknowledged that achieving this ambition will require proper structure and maintaining their competitiveness in an increasingly difficult Premier League landscape.
Being the best
“In order to do that, you need the best facilities, the best stadium, and the best supporters, and you need the best squad and the best players in the world,” Arteta said. “Those are the ones that win you football matches and the ones that can be decisive when it matters,”
” That is what we try to build with the current players that we have, and with the players that we want to sign to make the difference for Arsenal.”
The coach also backed his players, describing them as possessing the right hunger and determination to get the job done.
The North London side were not among the busiest teams in terms of signings, only bolstering their squad with a few summer recruits who are expected to go straight into the starting XI.
Arsenal’s summer arrivals
“I think this is part of our industry, and that’s OK,” he said. “For me, it’s when I look into the eyes of my players and I see that fire, that desire, and the will to be better every single day. That’s the only thing that I care about.”
The team’s arrivals included the permanent signings of defender Piero Hincapié, goalkeeper Illan Meslier, and Bruno Guimarães, who joined from Newcastle. This spree saw the club spend Ksh25.15 billion on four summer recruits.