Arsenal Ready to Go to a ‘Different Level,’ Says Arteta

02 August 2022, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manger Mikel Arteta arrives for the All or Nothing Arsenal Premiere at Islington Assembley Hall in London. (dpa)
02 August 2022, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manger Mikel Arteta arrives for the All or Nothing Arsenal Premiere at Islington Assembley Hall in London. (dpa)
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Arsenal Ready to Go to a ‘Different Level,’ Says Arteta

02 August 2022, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manger Mikel Arteta arrives for the All or Nothing Arsenal Premiere at Islington Assembley Hall in London. (dpa)
02 August 2022, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manger Mikel Arteta arrives for the All or Nothing Arsenal Premiere at Islington Assembley Hall in London. (dpa)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said his side are ready to go to a "different level" this season and that the additions of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko will help develop the younger members of the squad.

"We are ready to go to a different level, and I am convinced of that," Arteta told reporters ahead of their season-opening trip to Crystal Palace later on Friday.

"What the other teams are doing is obvious, others had already a much stronger squad than we had, and they still recruited four or five, or some of them seven players.

"This is not going to get any easier, so we can just focus on what we are trying to do, what we can do, because we cannot do everything at the same time."

Arsenal, who finished fifth last season, brought in Jesus and Zinchenko from Manchester City for a combined 75 million pounds ($91.04 million).

The pair were part of an immensely successful team that won four league titles in five seasons, and Arteta said their experience would benefit Arsenal's younger players.

"Those players have been inspired by top players, top professionals, ruthless winners for many years, and they were looking at them," Arteta said.

"Now it's their turn to do the same and inspire those younger players that we have in our squad to do the same, to show them what it takes to win and the level of detail, hunger and dedication that you need to keep winning."



Ivankovic Takes Responsibility after China’s World Cup Dream Ends

China's Croatian head coach Branko Ivankovic listens to the national anthem before start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian qualifier football match between Indonesia and China at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on June 5, 2025. (AFP)
China's Croatian head coach Branko Ivankovic listens to the national anthem before start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian qualifier football match between Indonesia and China at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on June 5, 2025. (AFP)
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Ivankovic Takes Responsibility after China’s World Cup Dream Ends

China's Croatian head coach Branko Ivankovic listens to the national anthem before start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian qualifier football match between Indonesia and China at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on June 5, 2025. (AFP)
China's Croatian head coach Branko Ivankovic listens to the national anthem before start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian qualifier football match between Indonesia and China at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on June 5, 2025. (AFP)

China coach Branko Ivankovic took responsibility for his team's exit from the World Cup qualifiers after they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Indonesia in Jakarta on Thursday.

China had faint hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup despite three consecutive losses against Japan, Saudi Arabia and Australia, which left them bottom of Asian qualifying Group C.

The expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 edition had ignited Chinese hopes of a return to the finals for the first time since their sole appearance in 2002.

"This team has been fighting for this goal for over 20 years," Ivankovic told reporters.

"We believed that if we could reach the next stage from this tough group, we would have a strong chance of qualifying. But we didn't succeed, and as head coach, I definitely bear significant responsibility."

The 71-year-old Croatian was appointed by China in February last year to replace Aleksandar Jankovic after the Serbian failed to take the East Asian country beyond the group phase of the 2024 Asian Cup.

"We've brought in a younger generation of players who have injected energy into the team. Based on their performances, I believe this team has a promising future," Ivankovic said.

"We knew this match would be tough — not just because of the opponent, but also the weather. I want to thank my players for fighting until the very last second."

China next host Bahrain, who are in fifth place in Group C, for their final third-round qualifier on June 10.