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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking ahead of the Gunners pre-season clash with Bournemouth in Los Angeles. 

The North Londoners have travelled to California to start their annual summer US tour. 

Arteta's side will be aiming to go one better after two successive runners-up spots in the Premier League over the last two campaigns and land the coveted title after 22 long years. 

Read on for everything Arteta had to say in LA:

on the mood in the camp this pre-season:

It’s been very positive since day one. We started at Marbella for two weeks and then we had a week off. When the players arrived back at the Sobha Realty Training Centre they were at it straight away. It’s not a surprise because they’re a joy of a team to work with - even today, straight away with jet lag and high temperatures, they train at the same intensity.

what Mikel thought of England at Euro 2024:

I think not only in this tournament, but what they have done in the last eight years with Gareth is go to a different level. I think he made the team better and he made individuals better. Obviously, the opposition was what it was in the final, but I think they have to be really proud of what they have done.

what it was like for Mikel watching the Euro 2024 final:

I'm extremely proud of my country, and it was a great moment for us to win. This generation had to really earn it in the last few years to get that belief. At the same time, I was sad because you love your players and you want the best for them, and it was a tough moment for them.

on how we integrate international players back into the squad:

There is a very well-thought-out plan of integration, but we cannot expect them to go from sunbeds to training at 100 miles per hour. They need to be able to get up to speed. When they come back we will be working closely with them to follow the rhythm of the rest of the boys.

on if those players involved deep into Euro 2024 will miss the start of the season:

I do not think so. Let’s see what condition they come back in. All of the messages I have got from them, they are really excited to come back and have a great season again. I do not expect anything else.

on if that is down to mental strength:

When your mind is telling you to come back, then I think you need to follow your mind. They need some rest, they had a week as well before they started the Euros. We will manage them, but if they are willing that means that they want to, so let's do it.

on how he felt seeing Saka score in England’s shootout win over Switzerland:

I was very nervous. It plays back in your mind from a few years ago and that moment but he showed a lot of guts and determination and composure to take it the way he did.

on whether the negative experience has helped him become a senior leader:

His role is constantly growing and evolving. He is a super important player for Arsenal and one of the main players for the national team, and at his age that’s a really rare thing to see.

on not being able to do much more to win the league the past two seasons:

We have to! Perfection in this league requires different standards to relate that world to winning the Premier League. That’s what we need to do, we need to upgrade everything we're doing and improve in every area. That's what we're trying to do.

on not being able to rest on our laurels:

We are so close. There are moments where we had really fine margins. We have earned to be there, and obviously we want much more and we are going to try to get it.

on whether not winning the title this season would be a disappointment:

When you are so close, you really want to grab it. But I think you have to analyse the whole thing. In the end, the outcome of this football club has to be to win major trophies, and we are in the process to achieve that - we are very close. The level that we are showing is extremely high, but it's not been enough to win it. That’s the target.

on how close we are to achieving his initial goals:

We're certainly heading in the right direction and we are travelling at a really high speed with the things that we have transformed not only in the football side, but I think as a club as well. Now what is missing is to bring the big titles back home.

on how important our three games in the US will be:

They’re really good because we’re going to play on three different surfaces, three different stadiums, and different weather conditions. The travelling is different and different opposition, so great it’s preparation for us.

on if there are any transfer updates:

No unfortunately not, but we know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources, especially in terms of numbers where we are very short. We will try our best but the main thing is to focus on falling in love with the players we have and make them better.

on Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury:

It is unbelievable, because the kid works so hard. He had an incident in training this week and we don't know yet the extent of that [knee] injury but as a precaution we kept him [in England]. We'll see what happens.

on what he is looking to see from the group in the US:

That we keep up the standards that we require at every level. Physically, there are huge improvements to make and team cohesion is the same. Also, evolving in our culture, and earning the right to win games and playing better each time. The opposition are going be really tough and the goal is to win the games.

on the opportunity in front of Jurrien Timber:

He is so willing, you can see that in his body language and the way he acts. He has worked so hard, I think he is in a really good place at the moment. We are going to have to manage him now in the next few weeks, especially because the load he has been able to do in the last few months compared to the next two weeks is very different, but we are very excited.

on whether he felt down last season:

Obviously he had his moments. It is not easy to come to a big club like here and start to set expectations with his performances and then on day one in the Premier League you are out for the season. But mentally he is a really tough boy. He has a great environment around him and hopefully that will make him a better player.

on Jurrien’s mentality:

He is a leader. He loves to be on show and a big presence in everything that we do. He is very vocal and extremely gifted technically. He is a great addition to the team.

on whether he’s keen to get transfer business done early:

Yeah from day one, I’d have everyone. That would be my choice!

on whether a new player could join the camp before the end of the tour:

I don’t know. There’s still a lot to go in the window. Edu, the board and everyone at the club are working hard.

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