Mikel Arteta claimed Arsenal are ‘still far’ away from their full potential as they start a fresh quest for the Premier League title on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners took Manchester City to the final day last season, after falling to Pep Guardiola’s men in the 2022-23 campaign, too.
Ahead of Arsenal’s opening match against Wolves, Arteta said: ‘I don’t see that we are close to that full potential. We are still far.’
On whether he could ever be fulfilled without winning a title, he said: ‘I don’t know. Obviously if you see no margins and you see, “OK, I cannot really squeeze the lemon, there is nothing there”, then maybe one day. But at the moment I don’t see it that way at all.’
He also revealed that his players vowed to him they would win the league at a dinner just hours after Man City seized the title last season.
Mikel Arteta claimed Arsenal are ‘still far’ away from fulfilling their full potential ahead of the new season
The Gunners had beaten Everton 2-1, but lost out on the trophy by two points.
It’s understood that senior figures like co-chair Josh Kroenke attended the dinner, which also had families present.
‘(They have been hungry) since the last day (of the season),’ he said.
‘We had a gathering together with all the club players and the players were saying to me, “We’re going to be better, we’re going to do it, we want more."
‘They are the ones driving that ambition. So that’s always positive.’
Arteta is honest with the margins at stake.
He added: ‘It’s like you’re trying to climb the highest mountain, (swimming) the most difficult lake in the world and you’re surrounded by people trying to achieve the same ambition. We’re certainly gonna try.’