Mikel Arteta urges his Arsenal side to embrace a major test of character as they aim to recover from two devastating cup defeats in their Champions League quarter-final.
LONDON: Mikel Arteta has urged his shell-shocked Arsenal side to embrace a major test of their character. The Gunners seek to recover from a pair of devastating defeats in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final at Sporting Lisbon.
Arteta’s side suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at second-tier Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals. This came a fortnight after losing 2-0 to Manchester City in the League Cup final.
The chastening loss to Southampton was only Arsenal’s fifth defeat this season. It marked the first time they have been beaten in successive games in this campaign.
The north Londoners have not won a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup. Three consecutive runners-up finishes in the Premier League have raised doubts about their ability to finally land silverware.
Arteta is convinced Arsenal can handle the mounting pressure. They are bidding to win the Champions League for the first time while aiming to finally lift the Premier League trophy after a 22-year wait.
“In the season, you always have moments, normally two or three. This is the first moment that we have with a certain level of difficulty,” Arteta said. “We’re going to say difficulty when we’re going to play the Champions League quarter-finals and the run-up for the league.”
Arteta knows Arsenal are in a strong position in both competitions. They travel to Lisbon as favourites and hold a nine-point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League.
“I love my players. What they have done for nine months, I’m not going to criticise them because we lost a game,” Arteta said. “I’m going to defend them more than ever. Someone has to take responsibility. That’s me and we have the most beautiful period of the season ahead of us.”
Arsenal will also take heart from their 5-1 rout of Sporting in the Champions League group stage last season. Their Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres was playing for the Portuguese club at that time.
Gyokeres has emerged as an influential presence in recent weeks. He scored Arsenal’s equaliser against Southampton and netted twice in the north London derby win at Tottenham.
Arsenal’s double bid is in danger of being derailed by injuries. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are in a race to be fit to face Sporting after missing the Southampton game.
Gabriel Magalhaes is also a doubt after the centre-back was forced off with a knee injury. Arsenal midfielder Christian Norgaard struck an upbeat note in the face of this adversity.
“The message is to have a positive body language, to talk with your team-mates, with the coaching staff,” Norgaard said. “Now is not the time to go with our heads down for too long.”