MIKEL Arteta says his Arsenal team are “desperate” to start the season on Saturday, when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at home.
After going toe-to-toe with Manchester City for the Premier League title in the past two seasons, only to lose out at the end, Arteta is keen to hit the ground running at Emirates Stadium.
“Well, we are really excited,” he said. “We have been missing the competition for many weeks – too long for us. We are so willing to start, really enthusiastic about it. We had a really challenging pre-season but managed to adapt and it was a great challenge for everybody.
“Playing different conditions, we took it as an opportunity and a good challenge. The team has looked really sharp, looked at it and desperate to play.”
As to what it will take to finish ahead of Man City this season, Arteta suggested that his team would need to get more than the 89 points they won last season, which was only one fewer than what they claimed in their “Invincibles” season of 2003/04, the last time they won the league.
“Break more of those records again and win more points that’s for sure,” he added. “It won’t be enough [last season’s levels]. With the level we are competing with and every season is getting harder, we are going to have to improve again, that’s for sure.”
