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)
TT
20

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."



In-Form Kolo Muani Wants to Stay at Juventus After Club World Cup 

Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group G - Al Ain v Juventus - Audi Field, Washington, D.C., US - June 18, 2025 Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani celebrates scoring their fourth goal. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group G - Al Ain v Juventus - Audi Field, Washington, D.C., US - June 18, 2025 Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani celebrates scoring their fourth goal. (Reuters)
TT
20

In-Form Kolo Muani Wants to Stay at Juventus After Club World Cup 

Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group G - Al Ain v Juventus - Audi Field, Washington, D.C., US - June 18, 2025 Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani celebrates scoring their fourth goal. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group G - Al Ain v Juventus - Audi Field, Washington, D.C., US - June 18, 2025 Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani celebrates scoring their fourth goal. (Reuters)

On-loan France striker Randal Kolo Muani said he would like to stay at Juventus next season after a Man of the Match performance for the Italian team in their impressive Club World Cup opener.

Kolo Muani, who arrived at the club from Paris Saint Germain on a short-term deal in January, scored two goals as Juventus hammered Al-Ain 5-0 on Wednesday, taking his tally to five goals in his last six matches for the Italian club.

"Honestly, I feel very good here," the 26-year-old told Mediaset after the Group G match in Washington D.C.

"I can play well and score goals. I am happy, I hope to stay."

General manager Damien Comolli told reporters last week that Juventus had discussed another loan with PSG when negotiating an extension to Kolo Muani's existing deal for the Club World Cup.

"I'm optimistic that we can come to an agreement with PSG regarding a loan for the entire 25-26 season," he said.

"Paris Saint Germain have certainly not closed the door to a loan, and they know the player wants to stay with us."

Juventus coach Igor Tudor's optimistic response to Wednesday's victory might have been tempered by the knowledge that the two best performers in the game are only at the club on deals which expire after the tournament.

Portuguese winger Francisco Conceicao, who is on loan from Porto, also grabbed a brace of goals after terrorizing the Al-Ain defense from both flanks at Audi Field.

Tudor has used the 22-year-old sparingly since taking over from Thiago Motta in March, suggesting Juventus might not be ready to trigger the 30 million euros ($34.57 million) buyout clause in his contract and keep him in Turin.

In the short term, however, Tudor has both players at his disposal for the Club World Cup, which continues for Juventus with games against Wydad Casablanca on Sunday and Manchester City next Thursday.

Kolo Muani for one is certainly buying into the Croatian's program.

"He trusts me, he wants to attack and he wants to keep the defense strong," he told the post-match press conference.

"I'm very happy to play with my teammates, we are very happy and we play very strong."