Arteta Opens Up: Journaling, the Zubimendi Situation, and Arsenal's Next Step

Arsenals' Arteta confirmed he's returned to a habit he's spoken about before: writing things down. But he was quick to clarify it wasn't a calculated exercise aimed at crafting a message for his players — it happened naturally, as part of a wider period of self-reflection over the summer.

He used the time to think about where he wants to take the club, the direction of his squad, and even how the next few months and years might shape his own life and that of his family. The payoff, he says, was tangible: more energy, a better mood, and above all, clarity — something he considers non-negotiable in his role.

"One of the main things I have to be able to provide is clarity and a clear direction," he explained, "and then have the ability to convince all of them that this is the right way to go."

Keeping a Trophy-Winning Squad Hungry

With a Premier League title now lit up on display at Arsenal's training ground, the obvious question is how Arteta stops complacency from creeping in. His answer was simple: he didn't have to do much at all.

According to Arteta, the players themselves were already talking about "what's next" almost immediately after the celebrations died down. He credits the group's enjoyment of the journey — not just the outcome — as the reason they're hungry to go again with largely the same squad.

The Zubimendi Question

A significant chunk of the press conference centred on one of last season's most influential figures. Arteta was unequivocal in his praise, calling him one of Arsenal's best players last season and stating plainly that the club wouldn't have reached the heights they did without him.

That praise came with context. Despite his importance across the campaign, he was left out of the matchday picture for the Champions League final — a decision that required Arteta to sit down with him face-to-face to explain the reasoning. Arteta described him as an honest, straightforward character who holds himself to an extremely high standard — sometimes too high.

The underlying issue was fatigue. By the end of the season he had racked up 55 appearances, a workload Arteta says simply cannot be repeated if the club wants to sustain its level over a full campaign. The manager framed the conversation as forward-looking rather than a snub — the plan now is to manage his season properly across 11 months rather than lean on him until he runs dry.

Asked directly whether there was any risk of a departure, Arteta shut it down without hesitation: he remains a central figure in his plans.

A Selective Approach in the Transfer Market

Arteta was pressed on his summer transfer strategy, and reaffirmed the patient, calculated approach that's defined his recent windows. The aim, he said, isn't just activity for its own sake — it's about being better or meaningfully different from last season.

He revealed the club already has four players in the squad — or arriving imminently — that they believe can move the needle. Further additions are possible, but only if they meet that same bar. Signing for the sake of signing, he made clear, would be counterproductive.

No Need for "Kicks" — Just Protecting What's Been Built

In a lighter moment, Arteta was asked about the motivational messaging dotted around the training ground and whether anything had changed over the summer. His response turned serious quickly: this group of players doesn't need harsh motivational tactics or "kicks" to get going.

Instead, he pointed to the energy, desire and passion already present in the squad. His real message to the players was about protecting what they've built together — a culture he says takes a long time to construct and needs to be looked after daily.