Mikel Arteta insisted he is not pressing the panic button as he vowed to banish the “pain” of two consecutive defeats which have left Arsenal’s season sitting on a knife edge.
Arsenal arrive in Portugal for the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night following a shock last-eight FA Cup exit at Southampton which arrived off the back of their Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City.
It marked the first time this season that the Gunners have suffered back-to-back losses and raises serious questions about the club’s winning mentality at the business end of the campaign.
But Arteta, whose side still hold a nine-point lead in the Premier League, insisted: “What you have to be is clear. Instead of panic, understand if that happens, why it happened, and bring clarity. And when you analyse that and you accept that, you will be better. That’s it, and that’s the thing that we have to do.
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Arsenal are gearing up for a Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon
Arsenal are gearing up for a Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon(John Walton/PA)
“Have some perspective on how difficult it is. Feel that pain, feel that emotion, and use it to be better and to improve. There are a few things that we have discussed internally, and I’m very convinced that tomorrow we’re going to see that.
“I know what it means to them, and I know how much they want it. Now is the moment to show it, and we have to do it tomorrow at the highest level. We are hungrier than ever, very excited and very, very motivated.”
Arteta will be boosted by the return of Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard for his side’s first leg in Lisbon. Defender Gabriel will also be available despite limping off in the second half of his side’s defeat at St Mary’s with a knee injury.
However, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber have not made the trip, but Arteta is hopeful the duo will return against Bournemouth in the Premier League at the Emirates on Saturday.