Mikel Arteta has said Arsenal's emphatic Community Shield win over Manchester City on Sunday must set the standard for the upcoming season.
The Gunners set the tone for a dominant 3-0 win as Riccardo Calafiori scored the quickest goal in this fixture since 1968 after slotting home Myles Lewis-Skelly's pass after just 23 seconds. Kai Havertz doubled their lead on 28 minutes before captain Martin Ødegaard added a third three minutes in the second half.
City started with Erling Haaland and new midfielder Elliot Anderson, who made a £116 million move ($157 million) from Nottingham Forest this summer, but were unable to put Arsenal under any real pressure at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
"We talked about the desire that we have to start the season and to show ourselves how much we want it," Arteta said. "I certainly saw a lot of positive things there against a top opponent. It is down to the preparation that we did in preseason, the decisions that the boys have taken after the World Cup, to continue to get prepared, to come early and be part of this.
"They really wanted to win the competition because it is something that we earned last year, the chance to play City here. Very impressed in the manner we played, especially in the manner that we competed. That is the standard for us. If we drive the standards at this level, I am sure we are going to be really competitive."
Arteta reiterated his call for the Premier League to expand squad sizes after Arsenal left out Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Jesus from their matchday squad.
"I've been trying to persuade the Premier League and the clubs to be able to extend the number of players that we can have, especially the outfield players in the squads, because we're playing more and more games and the load is unreal," Arteta said. "And not giving the chance to those players to be able to be here to participate, because maybe it demands the qualities are one of those players and don't have them available.
"It's just a shame. It is the most difficult part of the job."
Arsenal begin their Premier League campaign on Friday against Coventry City at the Emirates.