Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta 'wanted match scrapped' as details emerge ahead of new Premier League season
Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta was successful in getting a match against Wrexham called off this summer
PA
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was successful in getting a match against Wrexham called off this summer, according to reports.
The Spaniard is currently preparing his team for the start of the new Premier League season as the Gunners look to win a first league title since the days of Arsene Wenger back in 2004.
Arsenal know it is the small margins that will be decisive, having narrowly missed out on the league to Manchester City in each of the last two campaigns.
Arteta has worked wonders during his time in north London and has everybody pulling together as he looks to end their run of 20 years without the country's ultimate football prize.
Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta was successful in getting a match against Wrexham called off this summer
PA
Earlier this summer, the Daily Mail claim the Spaniard was 'concerned'.
He wanted strong opposition for pre-season to fine-tune his team, with a list drawn up with Gunners chiefs Richard Garlick and Edu.
Matches against Liverpool and Manchester United were booked in, as well as a clash with League One side Wrexham.
The fixtures against Liverpool and United were played in Philadelphia and Los Angeles respectively, with the match against Wrexham due to take place in a different state.
Yet Arteta wanted the team to stay in LA, rather than travel thousands of miles to a different part of America.
As a result, Arsenal agreed to change opponents with the north London giants then facing Bournemouth instead.
The fixture was only announced at three weeks' notice but Arteta has already won one battle with the board as the start of the new season looms.
Arsenal have had a quiet transfer window so far, with Riccardo Calafiori their only signing. The 22-year-old recently touched down from Bologna and impressed for Italy at Euro 2024 before their elimination at the hands of Switzerland.
Many feel they need a striker to ensure they beat City to the title next year.
But Arsenal are confident in the players they already have, with Gabriel Jesus providing optimism behind the scenes.
Jesus was restricted to just 36 appearances across all competitions last term due to injury.
Yet Arsenal are happy with the condition the Samba star came back in and believe that, if he stays fully fit, he can make a huge impact over the next nine months.
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Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta's side faced Bournemouth instead of Wrexham after the Spaniard voiced concern behind the scenes
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The Gunners have performed well during pre-season so far, winning three of their four fixtures.
They beat Bournemouth on penalties after a 1-1 draw before proceeding to beat Manchester United 2-1.
Arsenal did slip to a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at the start of the month, with Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho on target for the Reds.
Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta will be hoping to steer his side to Premier League title glory this season
PA
And Arteta's side ran riot in a 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz all bagged for the Gunners.
Adam Hlozek's goal for Leverkusen in the 76th minute was just a consolation for Xabi Alonso's team.
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