
Arsenal have 'belief' to end trophy drought, says Arteta
Arteta has not won a trophy since lifting the FA Cup in his debut season in charge in 2019/20.
However, he has transformed Arsenal back into serial contenders for major trophies.
Arteta's men have finished second in the Premier League for the past three years and reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009 last season.
The pressure is now on the Spaniard to get over the line after another major investment in new players in the transfer window.
Nearly £200 million ($266 million) has been spent on new striker Viktor Gyokeres, midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, centre-back Cristhian Mosquera as well as winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
"We know what our targets are and what we want to achieve this season -- there is a big belief in our ability to achieve that," Arteta said in his programme notes ahead of Wednesday's pre-season friendly against Villarreal.
"We have been very, very close the last few seasons and the whole team is going to determine whether we achieve that or not.
"But at the same time, we have to make sure that we don't lose sight of what we have to do on a daily basis to get to the levels that we want.
"We have to set the demands that we want within this goal, because that's the most important thing -- the internal demands have to always exceed any external demand. That is what we are trying to achieve every single day."
Arteta added he wants his players to feel "invincible" at home thanks to a special connection with the club's fans.
"We want our people to start connecting with our players straight away, to start to build momentum and to start to feel that at home we are invincible," he said.
"That we play here with such passion, energy and connection with our people, that we are going to win the game."
Arsenal begin their Premier League campaign with a blockbuster trip to Manchester United on August 17.
© 2025 AFP
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


France 24
6 hours ago
- France 24
'Global icon' Son Heung-min joins LAFC from Tottenham
The 33-year-old will reportedly cost a Major League Soccer record $26 million transfer fee, according to ESPN and The Athletic, after a decade in the Premier League where he became a household name. An emotional Son announced on Saturday in his homeland that he would be leaving Spurs, just months after ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by lifting the Europa League as captain. He leaves as Tottenham's fifth highest goalscorer of all-time with 173 goals in 454 appearances. 'Sonny is a global icon and one of the most dynamic and accomplished players in world football,' said LAFC co-president & general manager John Thorrington. "We are proud that he has chosen Los Angeles for the next chapter of his extraordinary career. "Sonny is a proven winner and a world-class individual, and we are confident he will elevate our club and inspire our community – both on and off the pitch." Son is set to be presented at a press conference in Los Angeles at 2 pm local time (2100 GMT) His imminent arrival drew crowds on Tuesday to Los Angeles International Airport with fans waving South Korean flags and messages of support. Son will replace French striker Olivier Giroud, who was sold to Lille in July, and will share a dressing room with French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, his former teammate at Tottenham. 'Sonny is one of the greatest players to ever wear the famous Lilywhite shirt and he has been a joy to watch over the past decade," said Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. "Not only is he a wonderfully gifted footballer, but he's also an incredible human being who has touched hearts and inspired people throughout the club and all over the world. "The Europa League triumph in Bilbao was a truly magical moment in the club's history and Sonny lifting the trophy is a perfect lasting memory from his fantastic decade at Tottenham Hotspur."


France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
German great Mueller signs with MLS Whitecaps
The 35-year-old has signed through the end of the 2025 MLS season with an option for 2026, Vancouver said. Mueller announced earlier this year that he would be departing from Bayern Munich - his home for 25 years. His tenure included 13 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League triumphs. "I'm looking forward to coming to Vancouver to help this team win a championship," Mueller said in a statement. "I've heard great things about the city, but first and foremost I'm coming to win. "I've had great conversations with Axel Schuster and Jesper Sorensen, and now I can't wait to play in front of the supporters and to see all of the fans come out to BC Place as we head towards the playoffs." Mueller arrives at a Whitecaps team currently second in the Western Conference, one point behind leaders San Diego but with one match in hand. "He not only brings a winning pedigree and exceptional football intelligence, but also a tireless work ethic that will elevate the entire team," Whitecaps chief executive Schuster said in a statement. "Thomas is a natural leader whose passion for the game is infectious. This is a statement signing by our club and our ownership -- a transformative moment for our club and our city. We are proud to welcome Thomas to Vancouver." Restricted mainly to a substitute's role in the 2024-25 campaign, Mueller made 49 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight goals. He retired from international duty in 2024, having won the World Cup with Germany in 2014. He finished his international career with 131 caps, scoring 45 goals. There had been brief speculation that he would land with Los Angeles FC, but the Whitecaps announcement came on the same day that LAFC were expected to confirm the signing of South Korean star Son Heung-min.


France 24
13 hours ago
- France 24
Arsenal have 'belief' to end trophy drought, says Arteta
Mikel Arteta has led Arsenal to three consecutive second-placed finishes in the Premier League Arteta has not won a trophy since lifting the FA Cup in his debut season in charge in 2019/20. However, he has transformed Arsenal back into serial contenders for major trophies. Arteta's men have finished second in the Premier League for the past three years and reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009 last season. The pressure is now on the Spaniard to get over the line after another major investment in new players in the transfer window. Nearly £200 million ($266 million) has been spent on new striker Viktor Gyokeres, midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, centre-back Cristhian Mosquera as well as winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. "We know what our targets are and what we want to achieve this season -- there is a big belief in our ability to achieve that," Arteta said in his programme notes ahead of Wednesday's pre-season friendly against Villarreal. "We have been very, very close the last few seasons and the whole team is going to determine whether we achieve that or not. "But at the same time, we have to make sure that we don't lose sight of what we have to do on a daily basis to get to the levels that we want. "We have to set the demands that we want within this goal, because that's the most important thing -- the internal demands have to always exceed any external demand. That is what we are trying to achieve every single day." Arteta added he wants his players to feel "invincible" at home thanks to a special connection with the club's fans. "We want our people to start connecting with our players straight away, to start to build momentum and to start to feel that at home we are invincible," he said. "That we play here with such passion, energy and connection with our people, that we are going to win the game." Arsenal begin their Premier League campaign with a blockbuster trip to Manchester United on August 17. © 2025 AFP