Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players to show greater consistency in the 2021-22 Premier League season.

The Gunners missed out on European football entirely last term after finishing eighth in the table and recently suffered pre-season defeats to Hibernian, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal kick off the 2021-22 Premier League season against newly-promoted Brentford on Friday night, and Arteta has challenged the Gunners to perform at the highest level week in week out.

Speaking to reporters at his pre-match press conference, the Arsenal coach said: "Our goal is to get the best version consistently that will get us closer to winning football matches and that's what I want from the team.

"If we can do it consistently in every single match - consistently give the best version - that's something we haven't done, and we must control and do it and if we are able to do that then the results will come.

"On Friday, win and then we will be in a strong position in the league, that's what we have to do and the rest will come. The demands of this club are so high. The expectations are so high. We have to cope with that."

The Gunners boss has also insisted that Newcastle United-linked Joe Willock is still an Arsenal player amid rumours of a £25m Magpies bid being accepted. body check tags ::