Arteta Confident Arsenal Can Elevate Performance Beyond Last Season

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has expressed strong belief that his squad possesses the capacity to exceed their performance from the previous season. This declaration follows the Gunners' flawless start to the Premier League campaign, which saw them secure a 2-1 comeback victory against Chelsea on Sunday. The match at Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal recover from an initial goal by Morgan Rogers, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard scoring on either side of half-time to seal all three points.

In a post-match report published on the club's official website on Sunday, Arteta praised his team's display as “exceptional.” He stated that the triumph served as a clear indicator of what his side is capable of achieving this season. “I think it’s an indication for us that we’re capable of performing even higher than we did last season,” Arteta was quoted saying. He further emphasized the importance of sustained effort: “It depends on whether we maintain that desire, that humility, and continue every day to find a greater version of myself and the team. We still have a lot to grow and a lot to offer, and that’s the ambition of the team.”

Arteta also attributed Martin Odegaard's noticeable improvement in form to his enhanced fitness and surging confidence. The manager described the Arsenal captain's current level as the best he has witnessed. “First of all, he feels fit and confidence-wise, it’s the highest I’ve seen him,” Arteta remarked. He added that Odegaard, like Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, has a “point to prove” after missing significant game time last season. Arteta highlighted the impact of injuries on their attacking lineup, noting, “We missed so many attacking players last season for long, long periods – I’m not sure how many games they played together last season, but probably not many.”

The Spanish tactician pointed out that Odegaard is thriving from developing strong chemistry with his teammates and, crucially, from genuinely enjoying his time on the pitch. “When you start to feel the chemistry they have between them and what they can produce, it’s great. But for me, he gets to that point because he’s enjoying his football,” Arteta explained. He elaborated on the significance of enjoyment in performance, saying, “You have to enjoy what you do, to play with real intent, and that’s what I saw today. He was running forward; he took shots, created so many situations for his teammates – he was great.”

Furthermore, Arteta singled out Kai Havertz for his significant contribution to Arsenal's impressive start, observing that the German forward appears more content and settled within the squad. “He looks happy. He looks settled, happy, and some great things have happened in his personal life as well,” Arteta revealed. He continued, highlighting Havertz's current state: “He feels fit, he’s training every day and has this routine right now. He’s scoring goals, but not only that – he’s also doing amazing work for the team.”

Concluding, Arteta reiterated that Arsenal's current squad possesses ample quality to achieve even greater heights. He emphasized that the primary goal is for both the collective team and individual players to continuously improve. “It’s no question that we have some great players. I believe in them and that they can improve, and they can have another version of themselves that is even better than what we’ve seen. If the team is better and the players are better, everyone will benefit from it, and that’s the objective,” Arteta affirmed.