2026-08-17 08:31:00
Mikel Arteta says that Arsenal’s Community Shield win over Manchester City has to set the “standard” for his team this season.
The Gunners earned a dominant 3-0 victory over City in Cardiff on Sunday (16.08.26) to lay down a marker ahead of the new Premier League campaign and the coach was impressed with the “desire” of his players.
Arteta said: “We talked about the desire that we have to start the season and to show ourselves how much we want it.
“I certainly saw a lot of positive things there against a top opponent. It is down to the preparation that we did in preseason, the decisions that the boys have taken after the World Cup, to continue to get prepared, to come early and be part of this.
“They really wanted to win the competition because it is something that we earned last year, the chance to play City here. Very impressed in the manner we played, especially in the manner that we competed. That is the standard for us. If we drive the standards at this level, I am sure we are going to be really competitive.”
Meanwhile, Arteta called for the Premier League to increase squad sizes after he was forced to leave out Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus from their squad for the season’s annual curtain-raiser.
He said: “I’ve been trying to persuade the Premier League and the clubs to be able to extend the number of players that we can have, especially the outfield players in the squads, because we’re playing more and more games and the load is unreal.
“And not giving the chance to those players to be able to be here to participate, because maybe it demands the qualities are one of those players and don’t have them available.
“It’s just a shame. It is the most difficult part of the job.”
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