When Pep Guardiola was the final game away from four-on-the-spin Premier League glory, he wanted to reiterate a message he'd received to Sky Sports News.
It wasn't a text or any other digital kind of communication, but the statement of intent Arsenal's actions had very loudly delivered to Manchester City.
"If we don't already start to be ready to compete again with them, they will take our position," Guardiola said. "Because I know the team, Arsenal the institution, and I know Mikel - it's going to happen because he's a huge competitor."
"Arsenal have given us the message and we take it. I have few certain things in my life; I wake up in the morning and I go to sleep at night. The other certainty, with the age Arsenal have, with the manager they have, and the way they were playing for the last two seasons, they will stay here for a long, long time."
In Los Angeles, where Arsenal are awaiting the arrival of Β£42m new signing Riccardo Calafiori - coveted and a certified coup - it is apparent just why their methodology has convinced Guardiola they are loading to be champions.
Arteta's side conceded fewer goals than any other Premier League team last season, their defence was at elite levels - yet he still identified a weakness.
There was no consistency on the left of the rearguard, where four different players turned out. The excellent JurriΓ«n Timber was stretched off in the first game with an ACL injury, Oleksandr Zinchenko was often exposed defensively and Jakub Kiwior doesn't offer as much support to the offensive play as required.
Quality and availability was an issue there and Arsenal have fortified an already solid area with Calafiori, Italy's rare gold dust at the Euros and the heart of Bologna's brilliance last season.
Real Madrid attempted a late push for the 22-year-old, but by that point, sporting director Edu already had the deal sewn up. In fact, most of the leg work had been done months in advance and the only reason a move for Calafiori wasn't completed before the Euros was to respect the player's wish of just focusing on the tournament.
He excelled in every performance, prompting jokes internally at Arsenal about how his price tag would rocket. The hard yards they had put in ultimately still sees Calafiori - given his age, high ceiling, versatility and ability to enhance the attacking play as well - come in at a steal.
Arsenal can have balance now on both flanks. The overriding mood in LA, at the club's palatial Four Seasons base in Westlake Village, has been one of certainty. They believe they will go again, go harder, go better.
Edu and Arteta are aware they have to be more patient and considered in the market, given the pool of players that can take Arsenal to the next level is much smaller now than it was at the start of the process, or even last summer. Their standards, expectations and qualities are in a different zone.
A guaranteed goalscorer, who hits 30-plus would be a welcome addition but that profile pile is the least crowded, most expensive and often actually not available for sale. It's why so much work has been put into building a squad of multi-functional and faceted players like Kai Havertz.
That will continue, especially as there is expected to be significant outgoings. Emile Smith Rowe is on the verge of joining Fulham, in what would be a club-record outlay for them.
Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah want greater game time and will be granted exits if good offers materialise. So far there have been enquiries but no offers that can be considered serious for the pair.
Arsenal are in the sweet spot of having clarity of vision, a superb relationship between the manager and sporting director, effective and sustainable process, as well as a solid squad.
Edu likes asking himself 'what is success?.' The above can be considered it and now it just needs to be supplemented with more silverware.
They are focusing on marginal gains across the board, and there will also be an immediate boost in some cases like with Timber. He has looked at his progressive best so far on pre-season - as he did in the US last summer - and it is hoped he'll continue to show no signs of ill effects from the ACL damage.
Calafiori's introduction begs the question over where Timber would play. Like so many in the squad, he can fulfil multiple roles well.
Arsenal continue to build something special - message delivered and received.
Arsenal's pre-season schedule: Man Utd and Liverpool next
July 20: Arsenal 2-0 Leyton Orient
July 25: Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth
July 28: Arsenal vs Man Utd - SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, kick-off 1am
August 1: Arsenal vs Liverpool - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, kick-off 12.30am
August 7: Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 6pm
August 11: Arsenal vs Lyon, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 2pm
MukisaGerald
0
this season Manchester United will finish below 10thπππ
Are you a witch
Mukhtari
0
My club doesn't play in EPL bruv. RM plays in LaLiga. We won UCL as well. Things you can just dream of. π
shameless Man utd or Chelsea fan claiming to support real Madrid πππ
Mukhtari
0
There's no way an Arsenal fool can challenge me
this season Manchester United will finish below 10thπππ
MukisaGerald
0
challenge you for eropa spot or what?
how many champions League trophies is Arsenal having even if it's playing it
Naqeeb01
0
Arsenal should focus on winning EPL and not to challenge Man City
there's no way they can win the EPL without challenging the one claiming it to be their birthright.
Naqeeb01
0
There's no way an Arsenal fool can challenge me
challenge you for eropa spot or what?
EmieGold
0
Arsenal should focus on winning EPL and not to challenge Man City
I completely agree with you. Last season they took 4 points from Man City but lost to teams they should beat home and away. That was why they lost the league. If they beat those teams and lost 6 points they would still have won the league. Arteta is just there chasing shadows.....
ColinsGooner
1
The way Manchester united and Chelsea are doing their business, they might win a major trophy π before arsenal
Chelsea are just clueless because they are buying every player on the market with a strategy to build a winning team,so they won't even get top 7,Man United have made good signings though but can't scare anyone especially Arsenal,will get 4or 6 points from Man United
flockyy
0
have the audacity to use your useless club's badge
Arsenal will always be arsenal
Mukhtari
0
You don't want to admit the truth fine
have the audacity to use your useless club's badge
Harnandez080
1
ManU will disappoint. Mark my words!
And Liverpool will do what? πsorry for
flockyy
0
stop hiding behind arsenal badge.. or are you ashamed of your club Chelsea or Manchester United?
You don't want to admit the truth fine
MukisaGerald
0
Manchester United title challenge is not existence ππ... imagine a clueless man united fan mocking Arsenal π
There's no way an Arsenal fool can challenge me
thv
0
a shite club you can't beat in the league for the past two seasons... you are delusional
My club doesn't play in EPL bruv. RM plays in LaLiga. We won UCL as well. Things you can just dream of. π
Mukhtari
0
Arsenal is a shite club.
a shite club you can't beat in the league for the past two seasons... you are delusional
Mukhtari
1
Hahaha Arsenal's tittle challenge is just like a joke π€£π€£π€£
Manchester United title challenge is not existence ππ... imagine a clueless man united fan mocking Arsenal π
Mukhtari
0
The way Manchester united and Chelsea are doing their business, they might win a major trophy π before arsenal
stop hiding behind arsenal badge.. or are you ashamed of your club Chelsea or Manchester United?
jencdoprty
1
The way Manchester united and Chelsea are doing their business, they might win a major trophy π before arsenal
You're funcking right bruh!
jencdoprty
0
Arsenal is a shite club.
whatever you say but Arsenal is a shite club!
jencdoprty
0
Man City Arsenal Man U Liverpool next season's title race will be the best in years
ManU will disappoint. Mark my words!
Uazii
1
Arsenal is part of all competitions , they are getting the team ready for that not to challenge Man City , this writers are just putting things the way they want , is only maybe 4 games that Arsenal will play against Citizens, the rest of the games is with other teams, why just to challenge City.
yatbdimpty
0
Arsenal is a shite club.
fuck you
Penadlpsuz
0
I still prefer Pedro Neto who knows the league and how physical it is, Adeyemi wey Dortmund wan sell for 35M i no trust that price tag abeg
that guy is a very good player
pehabkpyz
2
let Arsenal sign Adayemi from Dortmund this guy is a fantastic player
two more positions left
fabadkprty
5
You can read without understanding what you red. Man City is the best team in England for some years now. Then if you want to overtake them, you must build your team to be standard above them that's just the truth. Then Arsenal is on that process of building a stronger team to over take them, before you can win the league ahead of them.
pehabkpyz
1
I still prefer Pedro Neto who knows the league and how physical it is, Adeyemi wey Dortmund wan sell for 35M i no trust that price tag abeg
just give Martinelli a chance π
pehabkpyz
1
Arsenal is a shite club.
Arsenal better than u
pehabkpyz
1
Arsenal is a shite club.
focus on ur own club
flockyy
4
The way Manchester united and Chelsea are doing their business, they might win a major trophy π before arsenal
Temple7
1
Arsenal should focus on winning EPL and not to challenge Man City
MukisaGerald
1
Hahaha Arsenal's tittle challenge is just like a joke π€£π€£π€£
Ubong12
0
so Arsenal making effort to challenge man city not league cup?
You want the league cup or Carling cup then go for it!! We aim higher
Ubong12
0
Arsenal is a shite club.
What did you wanted to type??
Ubong12
1
let Arsenal sign Adayemi from Dortmund this guy is a fantastic player
I still prefer Pedro Neto who knows the league and how physical it is, Adeyemi wey Dortmund wan sell for 35M i no trust that price tag abeg
vuaabdipu
0
Man City Arsenal Man U Liverpool next season's title race will be the best in years
jencdoprty
2
Arsenal is a shite club.
Keym001
0
so Arsenal making effort to challenge man city not league cup?
Penadlpsuz
2
let Arsenal sign Adayemi from Dortmund this guy is a fantastic player