ARTETA'S AIMING HIGH WITH NEW LOOK GUNNERS

SCRIBBLED on the chalkboard of a burger van just outside The Emirates Stadium - a frank pre-match message awaited Mikel Arteta.

- Ryan Taylor

It read: “Arteta, now we want more, no excuses.”

Back in May, the Spaniard publicly ordered the Arsenal hierarchy to "do what they had to do" in the summer transfer market.

Seven signings — plus a club-record spend that has now exceeded £260million - later, it’s fair to reflect that sporting director Andrea Berta has delivered emphatically.

Now Arteta and his Gunners players must do the same because there is no longer any margin for error.

After obliterating Leeds, they look well equipped for whatever challenges lie ahead but injuries to Martin Odegaard and goalscoring talisman Bukayo Saka, who both hobbled off, offered a cruel reminder that ending the 21-year wait for Premier League title glory will be far from straightforward.