It’s time for new-look Gunners to start firing

LAST MONTH was a game-changer for Arsenal. Descriptions such as ‘plucky underdogs’ and ‘overachievers’ no longer apply. Spending more than £200million to bring in Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz spoke of a club who won’t settle for second place. Bayern Munich were interested in Timber and Havertz, but the German champions’ advances were barely entertained once Arsenal came calling. The Gunners are a club heading in the right direction — and the final destination looks to be within range.

When sporting director Edu introduced Timber to Arsenal’s London Colney training base, he showed the defender a blacked-out model of the Premier League trophy. Turning to Timber, Edu said: ‘Here, we leave the trophy dark like this, but under there, there is a way to make that shiny. We will make that shiny (when we win the Premier League).’

There is an obsession here, from the executives down to the players, about winning the Premier League title — a feat that has been beyond the club since the Invincibles season of 2003-04. But none of these grand gestures, signings, or declarations of intent mean anything without results on the pitch.

Tomorrow’s Community Shield is the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to exorcise some of the demons from their 4-1 defeat by Manchester City on April 26. That day at the Etihad is one many of those on the field at Wembley will remember — Arsenal, having had one hand on the Premier League trophy for months, were pulled apart at will by a side who roared past them in the title race. A convincing display tomorrow will not guarantee that Mikel Arteta’s side fare well this season, but it will provide an indication as to how far this team have come since last Easter.

That perception of ‘softness’ on the field, an accusation often levelled at this club, is already well on the way to being dispelled, too. Barcelona manager Xavi certainly didn’t think Arsenal were soft in their 5-3 pre-season loss to the Gunners in Los Angeles last week. He bemoaned afterwards: ‘I said to Mikel at the end of the game that it was a Champions League game, because the intensity that they put in was not normal in a friendly.’

That intensity goes back to the new signings — they all played leadership roles at their respective clubs. That can only help foster a ruthlessness within this team.

The squad’s age helps, with many of its key players under 25. Arteta is very hands-on, with the young players at his disposal yet to reach their full potential.

The loss of Gabriel Jesus to a knee injury on the eve of the season is, however, a significant setback. Before his initial surgery during the World Cup last December, the Brazilian was scintillating in a Gunners jersey.

Signs of that form were seen as recently as the Barcelona match, drawing praise from his boss and attempted hacks from the opposition.

Arsenal’s strength in depth in attacking areas does soften the blow. Across the top flight, arguably only City rival the north London club for options. In some areas, Arsenal perhaps even pip Pep Guardiola’s men for strength in depth.

The combinations at Arteta’s disposal are frightening and have been on display throughout pre-season. Timber has played right back, left back and in midfield. Full back Takehiro Tomiyasu has switched from side-to-side in a single game. Rice has been used as a No 6 and also on the overlap out wide. The manager has yet to settle on what his best XI actually is.

So the signs look promising. But ultimately it is a results game — and Arteta knows he must deliver this season.