‘Team to Beat’ in the Community Shield is Manchester City, according to Mikel Arteta, the head coach of Arsenal

According to manager Mikel Arteta, Arsenal are committed to competing for all trophies in the next season, which will see the Premier League runners-up open their 2023–24 campaign against the champions of the Triple Crown, Manchester City.

The relentless City, who won three straight Premier League crowns before winning their first Champions League trophy in June, destroyed Arsenal’s title hopes last season. City has won three consecutive top-flight titles.

Up until the middle of March, Arsenal had an eight-point advantage over City. However, they lost that advantage at the end of April, and they will now try to get it back in Sunday’s customary Premier League season-opener at Wembley.

The 41-year-old Arteta worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City from 2016 to 2019 before taking over as manager of the north London club and winning the FA Cup in his first campaign.

Since that time, he has assisted Arsenal in returning to the Champions League after missing out in 2016–17. Arteta said that he wants his squad to continue the positive momentum from the previous season and take it even farther.

We are playing against the squad to beat, therefore I’m really pleased to participate in the trophy final, Arteta told reporters.

“A new era for Arsenal, competing for every trophy, is what we desire. We must demonstrate that. We need to improve since what we accomplished the previous year was insufficient to take home the major prize.

“We must work to keep things at a high standard and enhance it for the fans.”

Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber were all added to Arsenal’s youthful squad over the offseason, but Arteta said that there is still work to be done in order to improve his team’s prospects.

David Raya, the goalkeeper for Brentford, has most recently been linked to a transfer to Arsenal.

“We’re working on a few things right now; there’s still time to finish the squad-building process. Without a doubt, we are pleased with the team we have,” Arteta stated.

“We’re working to create a healthy competitive environment within the squad.”