Morning.
There are a few bits and pieces going on, starting with some quotes from Mikel Arteta ahead of the game against Bournemouth on Wednesday evening. Having come so close to the title last season, the challenge begins again, and the manager says his team will have to improve in order to become champions, saying:
Perfection in this league requires different standards to relate that world to winning the Premier League. That’s what we need to do, we need to upgrade everything we’re doing and improve in every area. That’s what we’re trying to do.
It’s a tall order, of course, because if you win 30 games in a season and don’t win the league, it must be so hard to shake the feeling that there’s not much more you can do. Except, I suppose, win 31 games. Or 32, or whatever it takes. Part of doing that is building the squad again, recruitment and reinforcement will become the buzzwords as we get closer to the start of the new Premier League season, and obviously that was something Arteta was asked about.
Quizzed on any potential transfer updates, in particular with regards Riccardo Calafiori, he said:
We know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources, especially in terms of numbers where we are very short. We will try our best but the main thing is to focus on falling in love with the players we have and make them better.
Some might roll their eyes over the second line there, but getting more out of the players we already have is, to me at least, unquestionably as important as bringing in new players. I think of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, two players who – for various reasons, but mostly injury – didn’t come close to producing enough in terms of goals and assists last season. I think we can get even more from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. It’s probably greedy to expect Bukayo Saka to deliver more than the 30 goal involvements he had in all competitions, but I bet he’s determined to do exactly that.
Where I think we might be targetting a bit more firepower is through replacing guys like Eddie Nketiah (very strongly linked with Marseille this morning with suggestions a deal could be imminent), and Reiss Nelson. If we add some firepower to the forward line, and perhaps a player who has qualities we don’t necessarily have right now, we boost our potency at that end of the pitch.
Midfield feels a bit up in the air, although the Mikel Merino chat continues, and with Calafiori a concerted effort has been made to address an issue on the left-hand side of the defence. There’s been a lot said about what the Italian might bring to the team with his front-footed play/ball recoveries etc, and I suspect there’s something significant about that when it comes to what Arteta wants from his team next season. However, improvement doesn’t just come by scoring more goals, you can improve by conceding fewer, and I have a strong feeling that being the most defensively parsimonious team next season is part of the plan too. Having Jurrien Timber available also allows for greater flexibility in defence. I love goals and attacking football, but the old centre-half part of me loves how tough we are at the back too.
As for what he wants from the tour, with the games against Bournemouth, Man Utd, and Liverpool, Arteta said:
That we keep up the standards that we require at every level. Physically, there are huge improvements to make and team cohesion is the same. Also, evolving in our culture, and earning the right to win games and playing better each time. The opposition are going be really tough and the goal is to win the games.
I’m heading out to LA today, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it all comes together, and how much we can learn from the early part of pre-season. Usually, not too much, but I remember in 2019 seeing Saka and Joe Willock play against Bayern Munich and thinking these two young guys look ready, so you never know who might impress in ways you don’t expect.
For daily blog readers, don’t worry – things will be continuing as normal. Andrew A, Tim, Lewis and maybe even Tom (!) will ensure you have the daily edition every morning, and I’ll do my best to keep the podcast schedule as is – but time zones may play a part in that.
If you want to keep up with things in a bit more detail, I’ll be doing a US Tour Diary over on Patreon. Some writing on the road, maybe a bit of audio/video too, so if that tickles your fancy, you can sign up for just $6 a month at patreon.com/arseblog.
For now, I’ll leave it there. I’m looking forward to catching up with lots of US Gooners while I’m over there – at the games themselves and at the events in LA and Philadelphia – so for now I’ll bid you farewell, and leave you in the capable hands of the lads.
Catch you soon.
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