Ahead of the second leg against PSV, **Arsenal**manager Mikel Arteta said he looks forward to the day that he can call on the “exceptional” threat of Ben White, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard.
The trajectories of the three players signal some of the issues that have plagued the team this campaign. But a relaxed return to the quarter-final of the Champions League ought to be the outcome of this tie and Arteta explained where his head is at ahead of the last stretch of the season.
‘That connection was something exceptional’
With a six-goal advantage to hand, **Arsenal**afford themselves the right to rotate. There has been a boost on the injury front: **Gabriel Martinelli**made a return to the field in the second half of the trip to Old Trafford after his hamstring injury. To add to his presence, Arteta expects no new absentees.
“Everybody finished the game against Man United with no issues, so I expect the same players to be available and Gabby for sure will be available as well.”
Raheem Sterling stayed on the bench on the weekend: it illustrated again how his loan from **Chelsea**has been a failure. His manager made a diplomatic response to the questioning about his struggles.
“It’s the same with the rest of the players. In the end, we make decisions on the day about which player we believe fits better in the manner that the game is developing. He's come on in many of the games and didn't the other day, and that's it. I will decide [if he starts] tomorrow with him and the rest of them.”
**Ben White**will be eager to take the next step in his road to recovery. The 27-year-old underwent knee surgery in November and has been part of the matchday squad since the team's return from Dubai in the middle of last month. His role as an overlapping fullback adds another element to the attack.
“That connection that we had on the right side with him, Bukayo and Martin was something exceptional and a real threat in the team, we missed that. It’s true that Jurrien has been equally exceptional as well with his performance and consistent. Now we're going to have another option.”
The manager will not want to risk a repeat of his injury, but he might make a starting appearance here.
“I think we have to manage him very well because he was still having some issues to manage in terms of the load. We're very cautious of that to make sure that when he comes back, he can now maintain that level and there's no more setbacks, but I think he's in a good position now to give him a start.”
‘This is football: you have to earn it’
Such a sizeable lead after a first leg is a rarity. However, top teams do not slack off their standards, and Arteta did not lose sight of the small margins that moved the needle in the trip to Eindhoven.
“It is unique but it's also understanding how the game was played a week ago and the fact that everything went in the right direction for us from the beginning. We're going to have to earn the right tomorrow to go in the same direction, so we’re fully focused on that.”
Ismael Saibari rattled the post before Jurrien Timber scored. Myles Lewis-Skelly stretched his luck with a foul that could have earned a second yellow in a matter of minutes when the score was still 2-0. The manager feels those two sliding door moments should caution against complacency.
“It’s very easy: understand what happened in the first game and the direction that it could have taken in the first 10 minutes. After all the control we had, if we give the goal away or if the referee would have given the second yellow card to Myles, it's very simple. This is football, you have to earn it.”
This tie is also a chance to try and ignite the offense. The fluidity of the seven-goal rout remains the exception and not the rule in the last month and speaks to the openness of the defending Dutch champions. Arteta accepts he has to empower the players to solve problems in different situations.
“We talked about a lot of situations that we could have done better because the situations are there. My job is to give the team as many tools as possible, reassurance and confidence that we can deliver.”
One player who could change the dynamics is Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukrainian has been a left-back for most of his Premier League career but is now in the midfield, where he played in his youth.
“He's very good, and with the options that we have, we believe that it's a position that he can help in and that suits him. He's played there before, I've known him for many years, and he can really fit in that position, and he's adapted really well in training. He had a few opportunities to show that.”
‘The demands are to win competitions’
Though the Gunners should respect their opponents, it would be remiss of Arteta not to think about what challenges are on the horizon. Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid would await in the next round.
“Since the day that we had the teams in the group stages and you are playing against one opposition, you are looking at the others for sure. And then once we knew the possible opponents, we know them all because they are so good. So yeah, you start to put in your head ‘what if’, but that's it.
“After you know that, you have to earn every right to be in that position.”
The outlook on the season hangs in the balance. On the one hand, **Liverpool**are a distant first in the Premier League, and there is no hope of silverware in either of the domestic cups.
On the other hand, the side is still in second place and on the verge of back-to-back **Champions League**quarter-final appearances for the first time since 2010. Arteta is more happy than not about that predicament.
“If somebody was to say that with the injuries that we had, with five red cards and everything that's going on, probably. But I don't know. Everybody has different opinions; you have to respect that.”
Yet, the 42-year-old did not want to imply that the season has been successful.
“We are not there yet; the way I describe failure; it will be very to yours or to somebody else's.”
Ultimately, the **Champions League**is now the only realistic shot that the team has at a trophy until the start of next season. For those who expected the Gunners to be going for glory, it is an all-or-nothing situation. Arteta does not wish to put extra pressure on the meaning of the tournament.
“It's a competition that we have put in a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of energy. We're very consistent and winning tomorrow puts us in a very good position," he said.
“That is the demand that we put on every competition that we play. It's not adding pressure, it's the reality of where we are and what we want to deliver, and we are very much conscious that the demands for this football club are to reach the highest level and win those competitions.”