Arteta wants Arsenal to make ‘beautiful memories’ on Champions League return

By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 20, 2023

Mikel Arteta has told his Arsenal players to make “beautiful memories” on their return to the Champions League after a six-year absence.

Arteta’s side face PSV Eindhoven in their opening Group B match at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

It will be the Gunners’ first game in Europe’s elite club competition since they were thrashed by Bayern Munich in the last 16 in 2017.

The long-awaited return has stirred Arteta’s soul as the Arsenal manager recalls his own playing days with the north London club in the Champions League.

On the eve of his first match as a boss in the Champions League, the Spaniard issued a passionate rallying cry to his team.

“Proud and excited. We’ve been fighting for it and now we’ve got it,” Arteta told reporters on Tuesday.

“I’ve played in a few for the club and I have beautiful memories about them. We have to make the most out of it.”

Arsenal have made an unbeaten start to the Premier League season as they bid to make amends for the late collapse that gifted Manchester City the title last term.

But the chance to advance to the latter stages of the Champions League — a competition they have never won — is a major incentive for Arsenal this season.

“It’s been a long time for the club since we have been in the competition and obviously it’s the first time for me as a manager, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Arteta said.

“Every time I watched it and we weren’t there, I felt it. I think you put pressure on yourself. This club has to be in the Champions League.

“When I have the job that I have, I have the responsibility to try to bring the club to the biggest stages, to the biggest tournament and then be fighting for them.”

– ‘Learning process’ –

While Arsenal are not among the favourites to win the competition given the lack of Champions League experience among the likes of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, the Gunners boss wants his players to learn quickly.

“I think it’s a learning process. When you’re looking to achieve, you have to take some lessons from that. I think we did that and we got better as a team and we did the right things as well to improve the squad,” he said.

Arteta refused to reveal who will start in goal for Arsenal on Wednesday after he surprisingly dropped England’s Aaron Ramsdale for Sunday’s win at Everton, giving David Raya his first appearance since his loan move from Brentford.

“I understand the questions and I understand what happened, but for me there is nothing different,” Arteta said.

“It’s my job to have to answer the questions in the best possible way and the most honest way.

“As a manager it is my job to do as I feel and what I feel always is the best for the team and the club.”

Asked if Ramsdale had complained about being axed, Arteta added: “Honestly I don’t want to talk about the response of every single player in the squad whether they play or not.”

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus scored 14 times in 22 Champions League appearances for Manchester City, a goal spree that reflected his boyhood love of the tournament.

“I remember the times I watched at home, the times I missed school to watch and my mum got crazy. As a kid, you do things you don’t control!” Jesus said.

“It starts from there. It was different to hear the music, to see the best clubs.”

Source Punch Ng

Posted September 20, 2023


 

You may also like...
Saudi offer Mourinho more than £100m to coach...

Roger Federer makes sad claim about his coach...

Anambra SWAN Congratulates Asika On Emergence As Southeast...

AFCON final goals inside Lagos stadium special –...

UFC: Edwards earns decision win over Usman, retains...

NNL Super 8: Warri Wolves, Akwa Starlets, Jigawa...

 

Latest News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,163 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,306 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,369 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,742 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,311 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,506 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,931 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media