Mikel Arteta says he is “more excited than ever” as Arsenal begin their Premier League title defence against Coventry City at 8pm UK time at Emirates Stadium, with the head coach also making clear that his squad still needs strengthening at the back.
Speaking ahead of the Premier League opener at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, Arteta framed the new campaign as the start of a long marathon. Arsenal enter the season as champions, and the challenge now is to handle that status while keeping the standards high from the very first night.
Arteta was upbeat about the occasion and the task in front of his side. “I feel good, different, hopefully better. I'm more excited than ever, hungrier than ever. I can't wait to start the Premier League at home in front of our supporters, have a great performance and win the match,” he said.
Why Arsenal cannot afford to drift at the start
The tone of Arteta’s message was important. This is not just another home game. It is the first step in a title defence, and that means every detail will be judged against the standards Arsenal set last season.
Arteta said top teams are built on consistency and daily demands. “Those teams have an incredible quality, which is to maintain the standards daily at the highest level. It is an opportunity that we have. I have no question that our players have that desire and the ambition to do that. Now it's something that we have to earn and do daily,” he said.
That is exactly the challenge for Arsenal now. Winning the league changes the conversation, but it does not change the requirement to show control, focus and discipline from the opening fixture.
Arteta on the need to reinforce the back line
The other major theme from the briefing was the state of the squad. Arteta said Arsenal are “really active in the market” and admitted there is “a really specific issue in the backline,” pointing to the long-term injury of Wilo Saliba and the fact that the club miss one more defender.
He was clear that the plan is to strengthen that area, while stressing that any announcement will come only when Arsenal are ready. “We are really active in the market, I think I mentioned that a few days ago. The ambition is to improve the squad,” he said.
The concern is straightforward. Arteta linked the need for a deeper squad to injuries in the same area of the pitch last year, and that makes defensive cover more than a short-term talking point. For a team trying to defend a title, depth is not a luxury. It is part of the structure.
The long season starts now
Arteta also acknowledged the reality of managing a champion’s season. “It's a really, really tough moment, you need to face that reality,” he said. “But you need to face it with real honesty and transparency because when you are on the other side, that's exactly what you need.”
That is a sensible message for a squad that will be expected to handle pressure throughout the 2026/27 season. Arsenal have already proven they can win, but the real test is whether they can keep doing it when opponents raise their level against them.
For now, the focus is simple: Coventry City at home, 8pm UK time, and the first chance to show that Arsenal’s title defence is built for the long haul. Arteta has set the tone. The response on the pitch now has to match it.
