Arsenal face Sporting CP tomorrow night looking to bounce back from a poor run
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to see “fear and pure fire” from his players and fans during tomorrow night’s Champions League clash with Sporting CP.
The Gunners are in the midst of a slump from last season that threatens to derail their ambitions with Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth their third defeat in four games with their only success coming in their quarter-final first leg against the Lisbon club last week.
It’s a big week for Arsenal with a game against Sporting followed by a tough Premier League game at Manchester City on Sunday.
Asked what he wants to see from the crowd at the Emirates tomorrow night as Arsenal look to maintain a good 1-0 advantage, Arteta paused and said: “There is no fear, pure fire.
“Pure fire is what I want to see from the players on the field [as well]. Go, because the opportunity is unbelievable.
“Let’s face it and take it, put everything into it.”
He supported that by adding: “I’m burning, that’s all, nothing else, I’m being driven hard.”
“I have done a lot to be in this position because I know what this club is worth.
“Now this is beauty, I see beauty and opportunity, I want to do it for all the people who went with us on this trip because they deserve it, they were unbelievable.
“Now there is no fear. It is purpose, fire, and confidence that we will do it.”
Arsenal ‘did something amazing’ – Arteta
Arsenal have not won the Champions League and have not claimed the Premier League title since 2003 and Arteta was keen to reinforce the message that the club is doing well despite recent setbacks.
“What we are trying to achieve is difficult, it is challenging, and there are obstacles at times. You have to face it, and what I said. [to them] is that we are trying to do something that has not been done in the history of the group for years.
“It is the first time that we have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for three years in a row, we are very appreciative of where we are, we have a chance tomorrow to enter the semi-finals, and we are running in the Premier League in a strong position after 23 years without doing so.
“The beauty of it is that it is difficult and challenging.”
The loss to Bournemouth was a blow to Arsenal
Saturday’s defeat by Bournemouth, and City’s win at Chelsea on Sunday, saw the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League reduced to six points with Pep Guardiola’s side also having a game in hand.
“It was very disappointing and difficult to take, especially to lose at home when we had the opportunity to make the gap bigger, bring more certainty, and enter this week in the best possible way,” admitted Arteta, who was giving some strength to some of his key players.
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori all missed part of open training this afternoon and it remains to be seen whether they will be risked against Sporting or recalled at the weekend.
“We will have to wait until tomorrow morning to see how a number of boys are, and then make the right decision with them,” said Arteta, adding about England’s Rice: “He has played a lot of games, and that is part of the story.”
“He will try to do everything in his power to be with us tomorrow evening.
