Mikel Arteta is not worried about the energy of his team prior to Arsenal's Champions League collision with PSV.
Indeed, he believes that the allure of Europe's Elite Club competition will only add extra fuel to the fire of Arsenal.
The Gunners have fallen 13 points of the pace in the Premier League after a harmful defeat against West Ham and frustrating draw at Nottingham Forest. According to the OPTA super computer, they now only have a 1.4% chance of winning the title.
Arsenal was offered some peace last weekend because they had already eliminated from the FA Cup, although they still go into the first stage against PSV with many injuries to deal with.
However, Arteta believes that his team is ready to go.
“It is a game that clearly brings a different energy, keeps everyone sharp,” said Arteta reporters in Eindhoven.
“What stands for us is a team that Juventus has eliminated. We have played them a lot in recent years, so we know the challenge.”
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Arsenal played PSV twice in the group phases last season, won 4-0 at home and pulled 1-1 away.
However, they will not need a reminder that the last time they played the 25-way Dutch title winners in the knockout phase of the Champions League that they were eliminated, lost 1-0 before they were held on a 1-1 draw in Emirates Stadium.
However, PSV suffered the defeats to continue Eagles last week.
However, Arteta does not think that the domestic form will influence the opportunities of both teams on success on the European stage.
“Whatever the situation in the competition is when you come to this phase of the Champions League, it's something else, you feel it in the atmosphere and the energy,” he added.
“You play and you're in it or you're gone and that gives your urgency and it gets the best out of you.
“The results vary in football, what I care about is how they play; focusing on their weaknesses and how they can beat them.”
Arsenal's former Ajax defender Jurrien Timber said that Tuesday's collision was a chance to change the story.
“It is a great competition to play in and we really did well in the competition phase,” he said. “I don't see it as negative, but we have experienced a lot.
“It's a challenge for us and we have to assume.”
Arsenal has won each of their last four games in the Champions League, scored 13 goals and only admits twice.
The last time the Gunners had a five-game win racing in a single edition was in 2005-06 (five), when they registered their best finish ever in the competition (second).
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