Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s summer signings have “shaken things up” at the club, as Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke prepare to make their first appearances at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have splashed out nearly £200million on new recruits during the current transfer window, bringing in six players.
Gyokeres, Madueke and Zubimendi have all arrived for fees north of £50m, but Arsenal have also added depth by signing defender Cristhian Mosquera, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and midfielder Christian Norgaard.
All six of the summer signings have been in training this week and will hope to make their Emirates bows on Wednesday night, when Arsenal host Villarreal in a friendly.
Arteta has been impressed by their impact so far and is excited by what the new arrivals will bring this season.
They have all brought another enthusiasm again, and injected it into the squad. It’s shaken things up
“I know it’s going to be the first opportunity for many of you to see our new players in action as well, and we are all very excited about how the squad is shaping up,” he said.
“They have all brought another enthusiasm again, and injected it into the squad. It’s shaken things up.
"They have all been welcomed into the squad by the staff and other players in exactly the way I expected.
“There have been no surprises there, and many of them were able to get good minutes in their legs while we were out on pre-season tour in Singapore and Hong Kong, so they are developing well ahead of the new season.
“These new arrivals all add quality and depth to the squad, which is what we’re going to need throughout the season ahead.”
Arsenal are attempting to win their first major trophy since 2020, when they lifted the FA Cup.
Arteta and the club are determined to end their five-year wait for silverware and hope the new signings can get them over the line.
“We know what our targets are and what we want to achieve this season,” said Arteta, writing in his programme notes ahead of the friendly with Villarreal.
“There is a big belief in our ability to achieve that. We’ve been very, very close the last few seasons and the whole team is going to determine whether we achieve that or not.
“But at the same time, we have to make sure that we don’t lose sight of what we have to do on a daily basis to get to the levels that we want.
“We have to set the demands that we want within this goal. Because that’s the most important thing – the internal demands have to always exceed any external demand. That’s what we are trying to achieve every single day.”
