Arteta insists reigning champions Arsenal will reach even greater heights this season

Mikel Arteta declared that reigning Premier League champions Arsenal are capable of performing at a higher level than last season after a commanding home victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium kept their record at three wins from three.

Captain Martin Odegaard scored the only goal of the game in the second half, his third of the new campaign after managing just one throughout the entirety of last term. The result extended Arsenal’s perfect start to their title defence following their first league championship in 22 years.

“I think it’s an indication for us of how capable we are to perform at an even higher level than last season,” Arteta said. “We still have a lot to grow and a lot to offer, and this is the ambition of the team. We know every week it’s going to be like this, but that’s what we prepare for.”

Arteta was particularly effusive about Odegaard’s resurgence, pointing to the Norwegian’s fitness and confidence as key factors. “Martin is fit, he feels confident — I think one of the highest that I’ve seen him — and he has a point to prove from last season as well, and after missing so much football,” the Arsenal manager said. “He was running forward, he took shots, he created so many situations for his teammates, so it was great.”

The Spaniard also highlighted the collective improvements he wants to see sustained, calling for “another layer of dynamism, threat and aggression” from his squad — qualities he felt were on full display against Chelsea.

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso acknowledged his side fell short but urged his players to channel the disappointment constructively. “We are disappointed. It needs to hurt, but it needs to hurt in a positive way, because it’s just game three, still many games to play,” Alonso said. “We want to be tighter, to be more clinical, more balanced. But this takes time as well.”