Even in the carnival season, Mikel Arteta was in a very serious mood.
After all, it is the business end of the Champions League and Europe is the last chance of Arsenal for success in a season that promised a lot, but is in danger of delivering nothing.
Arsenal arrived in Eindhoven – renamed Lampegat for the annual five -day festival – to find all locals in chic clothing, a drink and in general paint red. It all feels a bit surreal. But Arsenal wants to play party poopers and spoil the mood against PSV, even if Arteta seemed the intention to play expectation levels prior to their last 16 collision.
Earlier in the season, Arteta spoke about great ambitions in Europe, and wanted to go all the way and yet they had a serious dip after they had not scored in their last two games due to the striker crisis.
Defeat against West Ham and a scoreless draw at Noting Forest has almost paid to the title hoop of Arsenal. Their season threatens Flatlining. But even without Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli – all on the missing list – Arteta says that they can find another equipment.
However, Arteta admitted that teaching faith will be the most difficult task of everyone.
Arteta said: “Well, try to explain how we are going to do it and why we do things. And they try to deliver that in the best possible way. In the last two results it has also been very different in terms of performance. Not getting the result that we want, but certainly better, especially in the last game than the opposition.
“And the fact that we still have gears, even with the players we have, some other gears to bring the game to a different level.
“When it comes to that stage, it is about lifting the level and the standards. Every individual must be at his best. And when we do that, with the team that we have and the connection we have between us, we are a really strong team. “
That spoke the chances of Arsenal, but there was no doubt that their recent form even checked the normally unwavering trust of Arteta that some people see as arrogance.
There was no big conversation about winning the trophy this time. Arsenal was one of the favorites in the group stage. Now it feels much more difficult to argue for them.
Arteta added: “I think that in the group stage, because it was different, I could see it very open. Now I see it very close because I only see one opponent, that is PSV and the game of tomorrow and that is it. But in the first phase I think it has been very, very different.
“I mean, the reality is, as a coach, I just look at what awaits us. And what stands for us is a team that has eliminated a team like Juventus with a history. So I know the difficulty. We have played a lot against PSV in recent years and we know the difficulty of the game.
“Regardless of what situation you are in the competition, when you start this phase of the Champions League, there is something else. You feel it in the atmosphere and the energy of the place.
“It is something else because it is a match that you don't play every week and you play at a time in which you are or you are. And that gives your urgency, and it certainly gets the best out of you. “
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