Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has sent a stirring message to his players on the eve of their Champions League semi-final second leg vs Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaks to the media ahead of the Champions League semi final vs Atletico
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Mikel Arteta is ready to unleash Arsenal’s wild “beasts” - and urged his players to “grab the moment.”
The Gunners face Atletico Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday night and Arteta wants to whip up an unforgettable atmosphere to help steer Arsenal into their first Champions League final in 20 years.
Arsenal boss Arteta said: “We will prepare as best as possible, the game, the team, and that we go out there like beasts and enjoy the moment and go for it.
“Let’s go and grab it. When you are in front of such an opportunity, it means that you are ready to deliver. And the team is going to go from the first minute to go and get that.
“Huge excitement. Really hungry. It's difficult to express the desire to live that moment. Especially with our people in front of them.
“They've been waiting for so long to have this kind of night. Push hard tomorrow, because it's something amazing that's going to happen.
"The thing that I had in mind for this club, you can never promise to win major trophies. You can promise to work every single day with the vision and implementing and being determined with the ideas and the decisions that you take to bring this club to be one of the best in Europe.
“Here we are. Now we have to make the next step. How tough is it to be in the position that we are in? And in our history, it tells us.
Mikel Arteta issued a Kai Havertz Arsenal injury update on Tuesday
Arteta confirmed Havertz is fit to make Arsenal's squad vs Atletico(Image: (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))
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“And the level of every team and the competition shows every day that being here deserves a lot of credit to everybody that is involved in it. And obviously we know where we want to be.”
Arsenal will unveil a giant “tifo” banner before kick-off as they prepare for their first-ever back-to-back Champions League semi final and want to go one better than last year to reach their first final since 2006 as they are dreaming of winning the trophy for the first time.
The Gunners are boosted by Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz both being fit to make the squad to face Atletico but doubts remain as to whether Jurrien Timber will be ready to play again this season because of a groin issue.
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