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Mikel Arteta delivered a defiant rallying cry ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting, urging both players and supporters to embrace the historic opportunity despite recent setbacks.
The Arsenal manager was asked what he wanted from the Emirates crowd on Wednesday evening, following his ill-fated “bring your lunch” comments before the costly Bournemouth defeat that saw some fans boo the team off at full-time.
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“No fear. Pure fire,” [Arteta told The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/15/mikel-arteta-arsenal-sporting-champions-league-quarter-final-second-leg). “That’s what I want to see from the players, from the people, from myself. That’s it. Go for it because the opportunity is unbelievable.”
Historic opportunity awaits
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The Spaniard emphasised the magnitude of what Arsenal are attempting to achieve, with the Gunners looking to reach back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for the first time in the club’s 140-year history.
“What we are trying to achieve is difficult, is challenging, is bumpy at times and it’s supposed to be like this,” Arteta explained. “We are trying to do something in this competition that hasn’t been done in the history of the club.”
Arsenal hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Portugal, where David Raya’s heroics proved decisive. The Gunners have won 10 of their 11 Champions League matches this season, including five victories at the Emirates Stadium.
Pressure mounting after recent defeats
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The timing of Arteta’s message comes as scrutiny intensifies following three defeats in Arsenal’s last four matches. After losing just three times in their previous 49 games across all competitions, the recent slip has allowed Manchester City to close the gap in the Premier League title race.
Adding to Arsenal’s concerns is the ongoing absence of Bukayo Saka due to an achilles issue, with major doubts surrounding the winger’s return date.
Eberechi Eze, who scored the crucial opener against Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round, defended his manager’s approach and expressed confidence in the squad’s mentality.
“The boss speaks well, and is passionate and you can see the fire that he has in his eyes and his mind,” the England forward said. “We know the opportunity we have and we know what is at stake, what is possible and we have an opportunity to make history as a club.”
Victory against Sporting would set up a semi-final clash with Atlético Madrid, as Arsenal look to build on their impressive European campaign and silence the growing criticism surrounding Arteta’s ability to deliver silverware.