Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta expects a tougher season this term compared to the last campaign.
Arteta admits hard work is required to build on last season's second place.
The manager said: "Harder, for sure because the level is going to go up and the teams are getting better and the league is getting stronger so it's only going to get harder. We have to be better and play better and do things better than we did last year and that's what we're working on at the moment.
"I think what happened last season was probably necessary to learn the lessons that you have to learn to get better and be successful and achieve what we want to achieve. So it's part of that road and that journey. We know the complexity of the league and the rivals that we have but I'm sure they don't want to play us."
Asked about closing the gap on Manchester City, Arteta said: "Coach them better to win every game. That's the aim. Play better and make sure they enjoy every minute of being here because at the end it's about getting the best out of them.
"And at the end belief that they can do it again and do better. They have to demand from themselves better standards to raise the level to achieve what we want to achieve. This is the mission every day."