Arteta says he expects more reinforcements to arrive at Arsenal

Arsenal will splash more cash before the summer transfer window closes, manager Mikel Arteta said, insisting the Premier League ​champions will not “sit still” while they prepare to defend ‌their first English top-flight title in 22 years.

Arsenal have been relatively quiet in the market compared to big-spending rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City ​and Chelsea, but the north London side have been ​linked with moves for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes ⁠and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr.

While Arteta would not be ​drawn on Arsenal’s reported pursuit of the pair, he told reporters ​on Saturday that the club were determined to “improve and evolve” the squad.

“We expect to have movements in the next few weeks, obviously,” the Spaniard ​added, speaking after a 4-1 preseason win over Girona.

“We ​want to get better like anybody else, and you just can see the ‌transfer ⁠market and our opponents, what we are doing. We won’t sit still and we are very ambitious with what we are doing.

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“The margins are very small. Because we want to ​get better and ​the level is ⁠going to increase. We need to increase the competition internally. We need to make sure ​we identify the things that we don’t have ​in ⁠the team.”

Arsenal have so far signed goalkeeper Illan Meslier and forward Christos Tzolis, while defender Piero Hincapie has joined permanently after spending the last season ⁠at ​the Emirates on loan.

They begin the ​defence of their Premier League title at home against promoted Coventry City on ​August 21.