Arteta demands more flair and ruthlessness as Arsenal target deeper title defence

Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to add greater ruthlessness and flair to an already impressive start to their Premier League title defence, warning rivals the reigning champions are not yet at their ceiling.

Arsenal have won all three of their opening league fixtures, playing an open, attacking brand of football that marks a shift from last season’s set-piece-heavy identity. Every goal scored so far this term has come from open play — a deliberate evolution Arteta attributes to the return of Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz to full fitness and form.

“I like a lot what I’ve seen from the team so far,” Arteta said. “For sure, it’s for flair but also just making sure what happens on the pitch is what we want. And having that dominance and control and threat in our minds. It’s the way we have to continue and evolve in certain areas.”

The Gunners were labelled Set Piece FC during their title-winning campaign after their prolific returns from corners and free kicks, but Arteta is now pushing for a more varied and unpredictable attacking game. He acknowledged that efficiency in front of goal remains the key area for improvement, particularly after Arsenal dominated Napoli in the Champions League midweek yet had only Odegaard’s strike to show for it.

Odegaard has been central to Arsenal’s resurgence, scoring the winner at Chelsea last Sunday before netting again at Napoli. Arteta was effusive about the Norwegian captain’s influence, and equally enthusiastic about Havertz’s role in the side.

“Kai is extremely intelligent — that’s his biggest quality,” Arteta said. “He understands the game, he’s five, ten seconds ahead of the game. He knows what he’s having, he doesn’t need to think about it, he just acts. And he just makes the people around him better, which is another massive quality.”

Arteta declined to pin down a fixed position for Havertz, arguing his versatility is a strength rather than a complication. “The best position is in relation to what the game demands and what the team demands on the day — to be as efficient as possible, as unpredictable as possible.”

Arsenal travel to Sunderland on Saturday night looking to extend their winning run and continue building the momentum Arteta believes will only grow as the squad finds its rhythm.