Arsenal starts the 2024/25 season Premier League The season begins with a home game against WolvesAnd Mikel Arteta has revealed that his team is far from reaching its full potential.

Last season, Arsenal were agonizingly close to their first Premier League title in 20 years, although they were narrowly beaten in first place by Manchester City – by just two points.

The Gunners have since had a difficult but positive preseason – which included a tour of the United States – when she played games against Liverpool, Manchester United And Bayer Leverkusen among other things.

The North London The giants are expected to challenge for the title again and go into Saturday’s game as clear favorites.

• Not nearly reaching full potential

After Arteta’s side came so close to the title in the previous two seasons, many wondered what they could do to close the gap between them and Pep Guardiola‘s super team.

In the summer transfer window, the club strengthened itself with Riccardo Calafiori, with Mikel Merino It is becoming increasingly likely that other countries will join – but many believe that even that will not be enough.

But while one wonders how and whether the Gunners can improve, Arteta stressed that his team is far from reaching its potential:

“I don’t think we’re close to that full potential. I think we’re a long way from it.”

• Kai Havertz’ mental strength and Gabriel Jesus’ hunger

Last season was Havertz’s first in Arsenal’s famous red and white shirt and represented something of a career revival for the German.

His time at Chelsea despite the success Champions League Fame, left much to be desired – but in his first campaign in North London, He scored 14 goals and provided seven assists.

But while one player shone, another faltered. Jesus endured an injury-ridden season in which he scored just eight goals in all competitions – and just four in his first season. Premier League from 27 performances.

As the Brazilian striker prepares for what he hopes will be a season of redemption, Arteta praised Havertz’s turnaround and drew parallels between their situations:

“100 percent (Jesus could make a similar turnaround to Havertz). One of the most important qualities in this sport is mental strength and Kai has shown incredible strength.”

“And besides, when you’re surrounded by people who love you, they want to do whatever they can to help you and make you better. People are also really patient and you see that person is so willing. After all, it’s doable and Gabi (Jesus) looks like he really wants it.”

• Xabi Alonso’s comment on the “competitive animal”

After Arsenal’s 4-1 win in a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen last week, her manager Xabi Alonso praised Arteta and called him a “competitive animal”.

When asked where this trait came from, Arteta revealed his passion for winning:

“I love (winning). In everything I do, I just try to win and do my best because I’m happier afterward, you know? I feel accomplished, and of course when I don’t succeed, I try to learn from it and apply things that will help me or bring me closer to that goal.”

• Perfection is required from the players

It has been made clear to Arteta that his players will have to be almost perfect throughout the season if they are to dethrone Man City.

He was asked how he instills the drive for perfection in his players, since mistakes are part of human nature:

“The only thing we can strive for is to be the best version of ourselves and maximize that potential. The rest is out of our hands.”

“That’s it (to do our best), you know? (We ask ourselves) Am I doing my best every single day for the benefit of the team? And I’m implementing it (like that) and being consistent in every context, so that’s what we can do.

“I think we do. We create something to achieve what? Let’s see. Depending on what the others do, this (success) does not depend only on us.”

• Premier League is not a duel

Arteta was also asked if he sees the new season as a head-to-head race between his team and Man City, but the Spaniard was quick to dismiss the idea:

“I think it will be a really, really competitive league. There are some new coaches, a lot of teams that have strengthened a lot.

“Some others have had a certain stability and consistency for a number of years now, so I think it will be a really competitive (season).”

• Hearing at Man City begins earlier than expected

According to recent reports, the hearing on the 115 charges against Man City could begin as early as next month, earlier than planned.

When asked if this could serve as a diversion for his players, Arteta made it clear that he was not interested in the matter and said bluntly:

“It has nothing to do with us.”

• Arteta’s promise for this season

Finally, Arteta was praised for his work over the past two years and asked what he could promise fans around the world for the new season:

“(We’re going to) try to get better, take a lot of the things we did really well (last season) and improve on them. And that (the recent success) is not on me, it’s on everyone involved in this process.”