"Arsenal are still the team to beat," he said.
"They have proved over the past year that they are the best team. They are up there to be shot at now and we will give it a good go.""Only time will tell how good the preparation was on tour. Last year we came away with four good performances and four good results. You thought we would go on to conquer the world but it wasn't to be. You have to look at the bonuses. Some of the younger lads have done well and Alan Smith has settled in, not just in games but also in the dressing room and in training."