Mikel Arteta saw Arsenal throw away a victory against Crystal Palace in their last game before they organize PSG in the first stage of their Champions League Semi-final next Tuesday
Mikel Arteta has performed Arsenal fans for their Champions League moment of truth and told them: “Bring your boots and your shinpads”. Despite a 13th Premier League-Confirmation, of which the Gunners have surrendered nine times, Arteta has already drawn his attention in the semi-final of Tuesday evening against Paris Saint-Germain.
He wants to convert the biggest game of Arsenal of his five and a half year in a kettle such as the Emirates Ring of Fire that burned the defense of Real Madrid of the European Cup earlier this month.
And although the Gunners suddenly look over their shoulders at the pursuit package at the home front, the focus of Arteta is now entitled to the Champions League. He is a banking on a repeat of the dizzying night when Arsenal really blew away and one of the most celebrated libraries of English football became a pulsating wall of noise.
In a call to arms, he said: “The message to fans is that they have to play every ball with us, so take your boots, your shinpads, your shorts, your T-shirts and let's all play together on Tuesday evening to have one of the most wonderful nights in the emirates.”
Already without a recognized center-forward after prolonged injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, Arteta now has injuries doubts about defender Ben White and improvised striker Mikel Merino for the first stage against PSG.
Neither of them was in the team for the 2-2 draw on Wednesday evening with Palace, so that the Arsenal boss admitted: “They could not be part of the team, so we will have to wait.”
The most important care of Arteta is the lack of ruthless instinct because the Wembley-bound Eagles became the fifth side to leave the Emirates with at least one point in the last 10 home competition of the Gunners.
He grumbled: “We must get our energy back. Thirteen draws have killed us. We have not been able to see the games for many reasons and the margins have been too small.”
Belgian attacker Leandro Trossard, whose fourth goal in so many competitions was a crumb of comfort when the newest points of the Gunners left Liverpool as champions a mere formality, delivered a cheerful message from the dressing room for the PSG stropdas.
He said: “Everyone is ready. We now have a six -day indication, we have to rest now, really prepare well, and I think everyone will be ready. With the home crowd behind us there must be an electric atmosphere.
“They will push us ahead. We want the same thing as last time, they were incredible in the home game against Madrid. If we can do that again, it would be great.
“It must be clearly better (than the performance against Palace), especially with the big game, we have to rest and prepare for it.”
Become a member of our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of mirror football content. We also deal with our members of the community on special offers, promotions and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can view every time you like. If you are curious, you can read our privacy statement.