Arteta feels the 'pain' but insists Lisbon is no place for Gunners to really panic
CAUSES FOR CONCERN: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a press conference at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. Pic: Zed Jameson/PA Wire
Mikel Arteta insisted he is not pressing the panic button as he vowed to banish the “pain” of two consecutive defeats which have left Arsenal’s season sitting on a knife edge.
Arsenal arrive in Portugal for the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night following a shock last-eight FA Cup exit at Southampton which arrived off the back of their Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City.
It marked the first time this season that the Gunners have suffered back-to-back losses and raises serious questions about the club’s winning mentality at the business end of the campaign.
But Arteta, whose side still hold a nine-point lead in the Premier League, insisted: “What you have to be is clear. Instead of panic, understand if that happens, why it happened, and bring clarity. And when you analyse that and you accept that, you will be better. That’s it, and that’s the thing that we have to do.
“Have some perspective on how difficult it is. Feel that pain, feel that emotion, and use it to be better and to improve. There are a few things that we have discussed internally, and I’m very convinced that tomorrow we’re going to see that.
“I know what it means to them, and I know how much they want it. Now is the moment to show it, and we have to do it tomorrow at the highest level. We are hungrier than ever, very excited and very, very motivated.”
Arteta will be boosted by the return of Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard for his side’s first leg in Lisbon. Defender Gabriel will also be available despite limping off in the second half of his side’s defeat at St Mary’s with a knee injury.
However, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber have not made the trip, but Arteta is hopeful the duo will return against Bournemouth in the Premier League at the Emirates on Saturday.
Goalkeeper David Raya is set to return to the line-up following a two-match exodus with Kepa Arrizabalaga preferred by Arteta for the cup games.
Kepa’s mistake gifted City their first goal in Arsenal’s Wembley defeat with Raya’s omission raising eyebrows.
However, Raya said: “No, it wasn’t frustrating. It is part of football. Sometimes you get picked and sometimes you don’t. That’s up to the boss.
“You have to be there for your team and your team-mates and in this example, Kepa, and trying to help as much as possible.
“We are ready to go again. I don’t think the word is ‘pressure’. It was disappointing losing to Southampton but that has gone. We have to use that fuel and pain to pick it up for the rest of the season and that starts tomorrow.
“It is an opportunity to show who we are and what we are capable of and we have to grab this massive opportunity and win tomorrow’s game.”
Head coach Rui Borges hopes Viktor Gyokeres will not be targeted by the Sporting boo brigade on his return to the Portuguese club. The Sweden international scored 97 times across 102 appearances for Sporting before making the move to Arsenal for £64million last summer.
It is anticipated Gyokeres, 27, will receive a hostile reception on his comeback, but Borges said: “He is a great player, and I am sure he will be welcomed by everyone because he marked the history of Sporting, and he deserves this acknowledgement.
“I always try to be balanced, and I try to understand everyone. He had the ambition, and after talking to the management, they came to an understanding so ultimately everything that happened was correct for both sides; both Sporting and the player got what they wanted. He wanted to take that step in his career and we respect that.
“Players will change, but the club stays the same, and Sporting will go on winning. I wish him (Gyokeres) all the best and I am sure he will be very welcome here because the admiration we have for him is great.”
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