Mikel Arteta told reporters that Arsenal can lean on their identity as they aim to win the UEFA Champions League
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta is hoping to lead Arsenal to Champions League glory this season (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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One more step is all Arsenal need to win the Champions League and Mikel Arteta is ‘convinced’ their identity will take them there.
A penalty kick separated them from their dream prize last season as they lost to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, their second attempt after a 20-year-long wait to have another crack.
However, after reaching the quarter-finals, semi-finals and then final in consecutive years, the momentum is with Arsenal as they travel to Naples to kick-off their new campaign against Napoli.
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“Start well tomorrow,” Arteta said when asked what the team must do to achieve their ultimate goal. “That's the only thing we can do. Start doing a big performance tomorrow to increase the probability of winning the game.”
There was no doubting the consistency of Arsenal’s performances in Europe last season, not losing any game in the 90 minutes, either in the league phase or the knockout rounds.
Arteta believes that the side’s dominance is what will define their chances of achieving their goal come June of next year.
“The consistency and the performances that we put in,” Arteta said. “The fact that we have been really dominant even when we play at home. With our identity, with what we want to achieve in games. I'm convinced that we can do it.”
Massimiliano Allegri described the Gunners as Europe’s best as his Napoli side, who will be without Scott McTominay, prepares to face the Premier League champions.
“Being in Europe gives you even more stimuli,” he said. “It gives you more adrenaline. Also because tomorrow we will face the best."
Despite the high praise, Allegri touched on an element which Arteta himself has been incredibly keen to remedy - player fitness. The Gunners have changed out many of their medical staff, including head of sports medicine Zafa Iqbal, replacing him with Arnaldo Abrantes.
Arteta has been thorough in an attempt to better prepare the side beyond simple squad management changes in the transfer market. “In the Champions League, when we arrive in March, the conditions of many players, when you have to play in direct matches, you have to be lucky enough to have all the players available,” Allegri said.
“But there are many strong teams. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich. There are many strong teams that can compete to win the Champions League.”
Arsenal travel to Naples with momentum having won their opening three games of the season, especially their impressive London derby victory win over Chelsea. Napoli, meanwhile, have lost two of their opening three matches. In Sunday's 3-2 loss away at Inter Milan, the Italian side conceded two goals in the final 10 minutes.
Arteta might be tempted to rotate some of his squad, but is keen to maintain the energy and flow of his group as they kick-off their latest European journey. “Yeah, that puts us in a really good situation,” Arteta said.
“The more the energy and the confidence around the team is high. That's what we have to show tomorrow on that pitch. Let's go.”