LONDON: Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal players to take the club to a “different dimension” this season, insisting success is now a “new standard” for the Premier League champions.
The Gunners manager said reaching the next level requires “a better squad and better quality individuals”, as Arsenal have been linked with big-money moves for Vinicius Junior and Bruno Guimaraes.
Arsenal ended a 22-year wait to lift the EPL title last season and Arteta feels the trophy is just the beginning of what his team can achieve.
“This must be the beginning and this must be our standard.
“Excellence must be our standard and it should drive us to attack the future.
“The way we act every day is with more determination and ambition because we have proven that we have it.”
“Now we have to show we deserve to be at this level and we want to improve and take this football club to a different dimension,” he said via the Arsenal app.
Arsenal are favourites to lift the EPL trophy again this season and are hoping to go further in the Champions League after being disappointed to lose on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s final.
Arteta had previously urged the club to be bolder in the transfer market after the defeat, with the aim of taking the team to the next level.
Arsenal are now exploring a sensational move to sign Vinicius from Real Madrid should the Brazilian fail to extend his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu and be allowed to leave the Spanish club.
Vinicius is currently in talks with Madrid management over a new contract, but only has one year left on his current deal.
Arteta is also looking to strengthen his midfield options and the club are reportedly looking to sign Newcastle United captain Guimaraes.
The 43-year-old manager is aware that he needs to bring in world-class players if he wants Arsenal to rise to a better level.
“We all know the context of this transfer window.
“From the owner to the board of directors, the sporting director and myself, we realised we wanted to take this club to a different level,” he said.