Mikel Arteta faced the press ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP sounding like a manager trying to hold his squad together at a crucial point in the season as reported by Arsenal via their youtube channel.
After Arsenal’s painful 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Southampton and the earlier 2-0 Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, as Softfootball previously reported, the Arsenal boss admitted the pain is real but insisted it must now be turned into fuel rather than fear.
Softfootball reported that Arteta made that clear almost immediately when he was asked about the team’s reaction since the Southampton defeat. He said Arsenal must first understand what happened and then respond the right way, saying:
Have some perspective, how difficult it is, what we’ve done up to now. And then feel that pain, feel that emotion, and use it to be better and to improve.
He added that after reviewing the game, he felt Arsenal did not deserve to lose, but also admitted they were punished for key failures. In his words:
We didn’t deserve to lose that match, but this is football and we get punished for things that are related to our identity, and that’s the things that we need to defend in the strongest possible way.
That word identity kept coming up throughout the press conference and clearly reflects what Arteta believes Arsenal must reconnect with quickly. He rejected any suggestion of panic, instead calling for clarity and accountability.
Instead of panic, understand if that happens, why it happened and bring clarity and when you analyse that and you accept that, be better. That’s it,
he said. It was a very direct message from a manager who knows the pressure is rising.
Despite the recent setbacks, Arteta insisted Tuesday’s game has lost none of its importance. If anything, he made it sound like Arsenal are mentally locked in for the occasion.
This is the quarter-finals of the Champions League, it doesn’t get much better than that,
he said.
“We worked so hard throughout the season to be in this position… We are hungrier than ever, very excited and very, very motivated for tomorrow’s game.”
On the injury front, Arteta confirmed that Gabriel, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard are available, which will come as a major relief after recent concerns over squad fitness. But there was less certainty around Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber. Arteta admitted both are still struggling and not yet ready, saying:
“No, they’re having trouble, they’re not ready yet. Let’s see, hopefully they’re going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well.”
He also admitted the situation has been frustrating for the team, adding:
“In recent days we’ve lost so many important players and that’s something that we need to change immediately.”
Arteta also spoke at length about Viktor Gyokeres ahead of the striker’s emotional meeting with his former club, and it was clear he expects the moment to mean a lot to him. He described the Swedish forward as deeply appreciative of Sporting and the role the club played in his development.
“I think he’s very excited. Obviously, he’s full of gratitude for his time here,”
Arteta said.
“The way he talks about the club, the players, the staff, everybody around the club… and now it’s Arsenal, it’s a quarter-final of the Champions League… you can imagine what it means to him.”
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He even hinted that Gyokeres’ recent international heroics with Sweden could further boost his mentality going into the tie. Arteta said:
“Those are experiences that you put in your veins, I would say. It doesn’t get much better than putting your country into a World Cup with a goal that you scored.”
That quote alone showed how much belief Arteta has in the striker’s mindset going into such a big European night.
Overall, Arteta’s press conference felt like the voice of a manager trying to refocus his team after two bruising cup blows. He was honest about the pain, clear about the problems, but equally firm that Arsenal must now show who they really are. And if his words are anything to go by, he expects that response to start immediately against Sporting CP.
