Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, gives instructions to his players during a training session at the George Mason University in Washington, D.C., July 17, 2023. /CFP
Arsenal became one of the biggest buyers during the 2023-24 summer transfer window in Europe as they spent 231.6 million euros (about $259.7 million) signing Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice.
"The Gunners" understandably invested so much in improving their lineup after blowing a big lead in the Premier League title race with Manchester City last season. However, the club targets more than the domestic league trophy in the 2023-24 campaign, according to their manager Mikel Arteta.
"It will be more difficult for sure, because the league is going to go to a different level again, which is already incredible," Arteta told ESPN. "And obviously playing the Champions League, which we haven't played in many years at the club. That's why we need a different squad from what we had last year, I think what we've done this summer is related to that, and more quality as well, for sure."
Kai Havertz of Arsenal shoots in the Major League Soccer All-Star Skills Challenge at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., July 18, 2023. /CFP
Arteta took over as Arsenal's manager in December 2019. It took him four seasons to get the team back to the UEFA Champions League zone, where they have been missing since the 2016-17 season.
Nonetheless, appearing in the Champions League won't be good enough for Arteta, who believes that Arsenal will "get into April and May" and "have chances to lift trophies." The arrivals of Havertz and Rice are both for that purpose.
"[Havertz] is a player I have admired for a long time and we had the possibility of bringing him to the club. We had a few chats about how he was feeling about it, and I was convinced he was the player and type of personality that we want in the team and to take us forward," Arteta said of Havertz.
Declan Rice of Arsenal poses for a portrait at London Colney in St Albans, England, July 15, 2023. /CFP
"[Rice] brings leadership, an aura and he brings special qualities that we didn't have in our midfield. Obviously, he has good experience in the league, he's already done a lot at 24 years old, but he has something – I saw that for a long time with him – he has that personality, that way of thinking, the way he plays for his teammates and the way he's capable of controlling football matches," Arteta said of Rice.
Arsenal are currently in the United States for a pre-season tour. They beat the Major League Soccer All-Star Team 4-1 on Wednesday and will play against Manchester United and Barcelona in pre-season games before going back home to host Nottingham Forest in the 2023-24 Premier League season opener.