MIKEL ARTETA is adamant he does not need to motivate his Arsenal players as they begin the defence of their Premier League crown.
But the Gunners boss will be happy to give them a cheeky “kick” if standards ever slip.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insists he doesn’t need to motivate his players to defend their title Credit: Getty
The Gunners are hoping to retain the crown for the first time in 91 years Credit: Getty
Arsenal start their quest to retain the title on Friday night, hosting Coventry in the season’s opener.
The last time the club successfully defended a top-flight title was 91 YEARS AGO, before the start of World War Two.
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But Arteta has no doubts about the hunger among his own squad to finish top of the Prem again.
The Spaniard said: “They don’t need any kicks. If they need a kick, believe me, they will get a kick. But they don’t need a kick.
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“What they need is the realisation of the energy, desire and the passion that they have to go again. It’s certainly there.
“Look after each other every day, because we have built something special — and it takes a long time to build it.
“We need to make sure that we look after it daily. That’s the most important thing.
“It’s like creating a beast, a monster inside you and saying, ‘I want to go through it again’. We know what it is going to take. We know we’re capable of doing it.”
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The silhouette of the Prem trophy that Arsenal players walk past on arrival at their London Colney training base is now illuminated to celebrate last season’s achievements.
And Arteta is backing his squad to keep the light shining bright this campaign.
The Arsenal boss said: “Immediately after winning the title, the players were talking about what is next and what they want to do.
“They enjoy the company and journey so much that they want to keep this momentum going.
“And they want to keep it with the group of players that we have right now — and that is great.
“We start from scratch, from zero, and we’re going to have to prove we have the level to go back to that position again.
Arteta has made little tweaks to help the players elevate their level this season Credit: Getty
Arsenal stars have been reminded of their achievements at their London Colney base Credit: Getty
“We have the ability to improve, to evolve. That’s what I sense and I feel around the club and especially around the players.”
One way Arteta has added fuel to Arsenal’s fire is with new signings – midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is in from Newcastle for £75million and, at 28, is hungry for trophies.
The same goes for England defender Ezri Konsa, also 28, who is set to sign from Aston Villa for £51m after a medical yesterday.
Winger Christos Tzolis also arrived for £34m from Club Brugge as well as keeper Illan Meslier on a free after leaving Leeds in June.
Arteta said: “New signings bring a new energy, something to prove and obviously competition.
“When you talk about players with that quality and leadership, the same with Christos or with Illan — what they’ve done since day one, it raises the level.”
Arteta said this week how his side are “attacking champions”, as opposed to defending champions.
The team are gearing up for their season opener against Coventry on Friday night Credit: Getty
Arteta says he has a newfound ‘energy’ to fight for more honours after a well-deserved break Credit: Getty
The Spaniard spent this summer on holiday with his family and part of that time involved writing down his thoughts.
Arteta explained: “I felt that I wanted to do it and I enjoyed it. It was a period of, again, self-reflection and understanding of where do we want to take this football club, these players?
“What is the journey I want to be involved in? What happens to me and my family, my life, in the next few months and years?
“It helped me. It made me feel better. It gave me energy, it gave me clarity as well. One thing I have to be able to provide is clarity and a clear direction.
“Then I have to have the ability to convince all of them that this is the right way to go.”
Arsenal have full faith in Arteta but they now have a target on their backs and tonight’s clash against Frank Lampard’s promoted Coventry – back in the Prem after a 25-year absence – kicks off nine months of solid pressure.
Arteta said: “You give me the choice, I want to be first, I want to be hunted.
“And I want to be in control of our future, rather than having to depend on somebody else.”
