Zinchenko insists Arsenal on track to surpass Manchester City

Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko says the Gunners are still aiming to dethrone Premier League champions Manchester City in the upcoming season.

Mikel Arteta’s side took City to the wire in the race for the title last term but were unsuccessful in their bid to win the league for the first time since 2004.

However, the North London club are gearing up to go again and have less than a month to complete their preparations for the new campaign before it all starts again.

Zinchenko was a regular starter for Arsenal in 2023-24, but may now face competition from incoming Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori.

However, the Ukraine international says it is still a case of working together as a squad to push on from their close title challenges in the last two years.

Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: “I don’t think we need to copy someone like City.

“Of course at the moment they are probably the best team in the world. If you look at the stats and titles they have won in the last couple of years, it is amazing.

Oleksandr Zinchenko insists Arsenal “don’t need to copy someone like Man City”

Where will the Gunners sit in the title race this season…? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/hIaKRS4ZrT

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“You always need to look at the best and try to but not be like them, we need to be on top of them. Mikel and his staff are doing an amazing job here.

“I have known him for a while of course, since I was at City. I always knew he would be an amazing manager. The development of the club inside, you can see the progress.

“I know people outside the club can see it but from the inside as well. Arsenal are on the right way. I really hope and believe in the close future Arsenal can achieve a lot of good things.”

The 27-year-old was a key part of City’s success during his time at the club but like his manager Arteta, he made the move to the capital.

He made 35 appearances in all competitions last season and admitted the Premier League is the toughest and most demanding in the world.

He added: “How much City pushed us extra in the last two years, it shows how demanding the league is and where the level is. I used to say the Premier League is the toughest in the world.

“Every single opponent can beat each other and every game is like a final here.

“This is not just words, this is true. Even in the beginning of the season, you can lose some games and drop some points and think you will be back.

“It shows how demanding this league is. You need to be at 100 or even more in every single game.”