The battle for places - Arteta's biggest challenge
- Published
Signing Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori during the three-match tour of the United States and flying him to Philadelphia to train with his new team-mates - and the subsequent move for Real Sociedad defender Mikel Merino - is proof Arsenal are not prepared to accept finishing second as the limit of their achievements.
For that to happen, Arsenal need better players, but increasing competition for places brings with its own problems.
Managing a group of players is as much about how you deal with the ones who don't get picked as much as the ones that do. And that is Arteta's challenge.
Where will Calafiori play is a key question on the lips of Arsenal fans. The same is also true of Timber.
But in a sense, that is not the crucial point. It should be "who gets left out?"
It is easy to see Oleksandr Zinchenko for instance not getting a spot in Arteta's new-look side. But his ability and versatility means the Ukraine international could be useful off the bench or to step in should injuries occur - and the chances are they will.
Arteta needs his back-up players to be on board with the messaging and willing to help the team.
For all the plaudits he receives for tactical innovation, that is probably the biggest challenge for Arteta this season. How well he meets it could determine whether Arsenal end their 20-year wait for a title.