Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal have ‘gone to a different level’ this season as the North London side chase the Premier League title.
Arsenal are top of the Premier League table, a point clear of champions Liverpool, heading into Saturday’s clash with Fulham.
The Gunners have finished as runners-up in three consecutive campaigns, but confidence is growing that the club can win a first Premier League crown since 2004 this season.
After improving the depth of his squad in the summer, Arteta believes the North Londoners are a different proposition this season.
Asked at his pre-match press conference what he has seen from his team this season, Arteta said: “A lot of things. There have been two very different blocks. In the second block, because of some issues that we had, we had to increase our availability in the squad. That was one of the main things to do.
“The impact that anybody could have in the game, whether he was playing or finishing, or he wasn’t even in the squad. I think we did that really, really well. And then we have evolved a few things that we wanted.
“To be more unpredictable, to threaten more the opposition, to be super consistent in all the defensive aspects of the game as well. And we’ve gone to a different level. And after that, in the next block, can we sustain a lot of those things and increase others? That’s the objective.”
Arsenal have conceded just three goals in their opening 10 games, the club’s joint-best defensive start to a Premier League season. Arteta insists that solidity will be the foundation of the club’s challenge.
“Well, that’s a platform to build performances and results, that’s for sure. And we want to consistently be able to defend at that level. In order to do that is how we attack and how committed everybody is to do what we have to do. And if we continue to do that, it’s going to give us a big chance to get where we want.
