Calafiori's arrival adds backbone to title assault

MIKEL ARTETA is known for his relentless work ethic, so it is no surprise that just over one week into his summer break he was already plotting how Arsenal can overhaul Manchester City.

- Simon Collings

The Gunners have finished runners-up to City in each of the past two years, and Arteta has said it will take "perfection" to finally topple Pep Guardiola's men this time.

Arsenal ended last season with a club-record number of Premier League wins and goals scored, but were still two points behind their rivals. "To improve those numbers becomes really tricky," Arteta said this week. "But this is the level required to win this league. We all have to set new standards." Sir Alex Ferguson famously once said "attack wins you games, defence wins you titles", and Arteta clearly follows the same school of thought.

In five of the past seven seasons, the team crowned champions have had the best defence in the division.

Defence was the cornerstone of Arsenal's title charge last season, and their summer transfer business suggests that will be the case again.