Arteta: Squad is stronger than last season, now we need to prove it

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said that although the team has fewer attacking players than last season, he firmly believes the current squad is stronger than last season's squad, and the team now needs to prove it through performances.

During this transfer window, Arsenal sold Trossard, Jesus and Martinelli, while their only attacking signing was Christos Zolis. Facing questions over the depth of the attack, Arteta was clear: "Yes, I think so. That is my feeling. Now we have to prove it. I think our setup is better. I think we have more available players than we had at the start of last season. We have improved the quality and strengthened the leadership in the team, which is very important."

"Availability" is the key word emphasized by Arteta.

The "availability" Arteta referred to points to the situation at the start of last season, when Arsenal had only one fit specialist striker. In the opening away match of last season against Manchester United, Kai Havertz suffered a serious knee injury, while Jesus did not return from injury until December. This meant Viktor Gyokeres carried almost the entire attacking burden before his own injury in November, after which Arteta even moved Mikel Merino into a forward role.

The team still has concerns on the left-wing position, with Zolis and Eberechi Eze as the main options. However, Arteta believes improved leadership has made up for these shortcomings, with this mainly referring to the arrival of new signing Bruno Guimaraes. The 28-year-old midfielder arrived as Newcastle United captain after spending four and a half years in the northeast.

"I don't want to make assumptions before matches"

When asked whether the attacking depth was sufficient, Arteta said: "We have to prove whether we are better in that specific position. We will see. We need matches. I don't like making assumptions before matches. I think it is not only the responsibility of those players, but also the responsibility of the whole team and the team dynamics. We have different options with different qualities in that position."

Arteta also responded to expectations of more signings: "It is human nature. When you speak to people, you usually ask: 'What is on your wish list?' People will write many things. But sometimes we forget the reverse list—the incredible things you already have in your life, but you focus so much on them that nothing is enough. This does not only happen in football, it happens in life as well. I truly appreciate what we have and what we have created together."