At the moment, Arsenal are first in the Premier League table and in a good position to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League after their 1-0 success at Sporting Portugal. But once again, at the moment of truth, the Gunners falter, tremble. In C1, Mikel Arteta’s men certainly won the first leg in Lisbon, but they are significantly less dominant than in the league phase and most people cite them as the second favorite for the final victory with Bayern Munich. As against Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round, they will have to be more conquering at the Emirates after being heckled in the first leg. Because if they manage to qualify, the matter will be very different against Atlético de Madrid or FC Barcelona. Present in front of the media on the eve of the semi-final return against Sporting CP, Mikel Arteta faced all these doubts surrounding his team.
“I don’t feel fear. Pure passion. That’s it. This is what I expect from the players, the public and myself. Seize every opportunity. It’s incredible. It’s April, an incredible opportunity awaits us. Let’s face it and give it our all. I’m fully invested in it. Passion! I’m on fire! That’s it. Nothing else. I dream of it so much. I’ve done so much to get here. Because I know what that club was. I have fought so hard against everything around me that I only see opportunity. I want those who have been on this journey with us to succeed. They deserve it, it’s incredible. I have no fear. I was scared when I said to myself: if we don’t succeed, I don’t know what will happen to the club. NOW ? There is nothing left but determination, passion. I show my players all these people and these players who adore them for what they achieve, which is unprecedented at this club. What we are trying to accomplish is difficult, demanding, and sometimes fraught with pitfalls. It is normal that this is so. We have to face it. We are trying to achieve, in this competition (the Champions League, editor’s note), something that has never been done in the history of the club – in 140 years. This gives you an idea of how difficult the task is. We are very appreciative of our current situation. We want to reach the semi-finals. »
Arteta firmly believes in it
A mobilizing speech full of desire that will have to be confirmed on the ground tomorrow evening. Because, in England, the situation is almost identical. On paper, Arsenal lead the Premier League table with six points ahead of Manchester City. However, the Gunners saw their nine-length lead melt away like snow in the sun and the disaster scenario is increasingly resonating in His Majesty’s Kingdom. Manchester City must face Arsenal next weekend and still have one game in hand. You will have understood, everything could change if Pep Guardiola’s players win against the Gunners and their late match. All this without counting on a defeat in the League Cup final against City and an elimination in the quarter-final of the FA Cup against Southampton. Will Arsenal collapse and once again become the laughing stock of all England? In recent days, a City supporter has created a buzz by being filmed by television cameras drinking a bottle labeled with the Gunners colors. A small event which perfectly symbolizes the desire of many to see the Gunners collapse in the money-time while a historic season was promised to them. But here again, Arteta played down the event.
“Just one fan speaking out, in front of over 60,000 incredible supporters at the Emirates? It doesn’t affect me. (…) We have been in a very solid position in the Premier League for 22 years without having achieved it (to be crowned). We therefore know the difficulty of the task. The beauty of it is that it is difficult. We have never been in this position in the Champions League in our entire history. We have overcome many obstacles that have existed for 140 years, which has never been done before. If we want to take the next step, for sure, we must have more ambition than anyone else. We are getting there, and we are very, very close to the goal. What I like about our situation is that there is no satisfaction. You didn’t ask me any questions like: “congratulations, you’re going to play in the Champions League next year.” Now we take this for granted. I guess in the next 20 years this club will take it for granted that we are fighting for titles in April. It’s great. I really appreciate what the players have accomplished. » Proud of his work, Mikel Arteta has reason to be, even if he knows that what matters most to establish a club in Europe are trophies.
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– UPDATE
