Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are looking to improve every department in their squad during the summer transfer window.
The Gunners fell agonisingly short of ending their 20-year wait for a Premier League title last season, finishing on 89 points, two behind champions Manchester City.
“We are looking to improve in every possible department," Arteta said in an interview with ESPN. "With the new regulations, there are certain things we have to respect and be conscious of and then obviously the Euros and Copa America are slowing everything down. Hopefully now it is going to pick up a little bit.
"There are things that we have to improve, that's for sure, and we are going to try to. But the market is tricky. We have been very aggressive, we are very determined and we have a clear idea obviously of what we want to do. It will come down to finding the right agreements at the right time.”
Arteta saw his team pipped to the top spot last season by Manchester City despite accumulating 89 points, their second-highest total ever behind the 2003/04 "Invincibles". So when he was asked how many points his team needed to claim an elusive title, Arteta joked that a maximum of 114 is his target.
"One hundred and fourteen wins it and then you start from there," he said. "You know that the margins are really, really small and tight and the competition is going to be even harder than the previous season.
"You go game-by-game, earn the right to win every game, that's all we can think of, and try to improve our players. And make them believe they can do it because now they are good enough to do it"
'No update on contract'
While Arsenal have tied down key players such as Bukayo Saka and William Saliba on long-term contracts, Arteta's own deal expires at the end of this season.
“There is no update at the moment [regarding a new contract],” Arteta said. “The thing that hasn't changed is how happy I am and how valued I feel here and how much I love representing this club.
“The focus now is, 'OK, how we can improve things around the team, how we can improve now the things in the transfer window that we have.' We have time to sit down and discuss that [a new contract]."
Arsenal start the 2024/25 season with a home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, before testing away trips to Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Man City over their opening five fixtures.
“I like playing the first game at home, that's for sure," Arteta added. "I think everybody is looking forward to that. It is going to be a special day in the new season, starting with that level of energy and expectations. Obviously we are going to be very well prepared for that one.
"Then in the Premier League you have to play against everybody. It looks tough but if you put it in any other way, it looks tough as well. We are going to have to go through that. We have to be prepared because [the games are] going to come very thick and fast."
Arsenal begin their pre-season preparations with a friendly against AFC Bournemouth on 24 July in Los Angeles, part of their tour to the United States, where they will also take on Premier League rivals Manchester United and Liverpool.
