Arteta outlines what it’ll take for Arsenal to become champions again

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered an update on the club’s winter break excursion to Dubai, and gave a tongue-in-cheek response when asked what is required for the Gunners to reign supreme as English champions once more.

As part of the staggered winter break introduced for the first time in the Premier League this year, Arsenal have jetted off to the United Arab Emirates to partake in a spot of warm weather training.

Upon their return, however, the fixtures will come thick and fast with the Gunners still in the FA Cup and the commencing of the Europa League knockout stages to compliment their domestic league campaign.

Speaking on how their trip to the Middle East will benefit his side upon their return, Arteta said: “We cannot be any happier with the conditions for us to train. We came here to work, it was like a mini pre-season.

“I wanted to use it to work on our principles and our styles of play, and as well how we live together.

“There are things I want to implement together as a group, not just for the players but for the staff as well. It has been really useful.

“We had good reason to come here. We are really happy that we made that decision. We came here to work, it was not a holiday.

“We have been working really hard. We have been working on things that will be good for us over the next few months.”

The initial goal for the former Arsenal midfielder will be to get the Gunners back into Europe’s elite competition before they can start challenging for the title again.

After helping Manchester City win the Premier League during the last two seasons as Pep Guardiola’s assistant, Arteta is well placed to know what it takes to guide a team to the title.

On what Arsenal need to achieve that, the 37-year-old cheekily replied: “100 points? Maybe 105 points? We can do it in many different ways.

“At the moment we are far from it, but we need to go step by step because this club deserves nothing else than that.”

Meanwhile, Arteta has been given the green light to bring an exciting £46.5m duo to the Emirates this summer.

With the Gunners currently down in 10th place after just six Premier League wins all season, the club look unlikely to qualify for Europe next season unless they can enjoy a surge in form late in the season and/or taste success in the Europa League.

It’s claimed that Arteta is aware that he needs to offload their highest earners in order to re-invest in his squad and plans to buy upcoming talents, as opposed established names, in order to rejuvenate their flagging fortunes.

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