Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal need to 'upgrade' squad

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta has called on the club to upgrade his squad if he is to make it third time lucky and end a 21-year wait to win the Premier League this season.

The Spanish coach was speaking on the first day of the club’s pre-season tour of America in which they will play Bournemouth, Manchester United and Liverpool.

But he is acutely aware they are yet to make any new signings to bolster a squad that has completed two near perfect seasons only to be pipped to the ultimate prize by his former club Manchester City.

Injuries and inexperience have played a role in falling just short and Arteta conceded he needs more players.

Asked if needed to upgrade his playing staff, Arteta explained: “We have to. Perfection in this league requires different standards. To relate that word perfection to winning the Premier League then that’s what we have to do. We need to upgrade in everything we are doing. We have to improve in every area and that is what we are trying to do.” 

He then expanded on his frustration at Arsenal’s inability to land any major deals since the end of last season and did not rule out a player joining their camp in America.

Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori still seems the closest to joining and Arteta added: “I don’t know [if anyone will join us]. It’s still a lot of time to go in the window but that’s more of a question for Edu and the board I think. When you are so close you want to grab it. We are very close.” 

Asked if he could out a date on the Calafiori deal he stated: “No, unfortunately not but obviously we know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources in terms of numbers where we are short.

“We will try our best but the main thing is to focus on falling in love with the players we have and make them better.”