Mikel Arteta feels that all of Arsenal’s improvement over the past two seasons can give his side enough motivation to progress in the Champions League quarter-final clash at Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.
The Gunners could advance to the semifinals of the continental competition for the first time in 15 years if they can topple the German giants on their home soil.
Arteta is of the opinion that the recent disappointment and also improvement from recent time should put Arsenal in a position to get a positive result.
Arteta wants Arsenal to put in a strong performance in Germany
When asked what he would be willing to see from his side, Arteta said: “A performance that puts us in the Champions League semi-final. All the preparation has been to achieve that, and earn it.”
“We have been ready for 10 months and everything we did last season to start that journey in the Champions League after so many years, and tomorrow we have an unbelievable opportunity to make it happen.”
“We didn’t lose anything last year because we didn’t win anything. First of all, you have to win it and then maybe you can lose it. What we had is an unbelievable journey against the best team in the world here and in Europe in the last seven years. This is where we want to be and we are not satisfied. We want to be better and that is the level that we are competing, so we will try again our best until the last day trying to win those cups and to be successful.”
Thomas Tuchel mentioned his side’s experience at this level, having reached eight semi-finals since 2009 as something that could be the difference against the Gunners.
However while Arteta admits that his side can’t boast that pedigree, he can sense their eagerness to make history of their own.
“Most of our players haven’t experienced a night like this and it’ll be their first one,” he added.
“They’ll be super motivated, they are prepared and confident and it’s something that tomorrow we have to show against an opponent that has experience, but we’ve got to make it happen.”
“I want my team to be ourselves, regardless of the stadium. Sometimes you want to do certain things and the opponent doesn’t allow you to do it, and we’re going to be very clear how we’re going to play the game, how we want to play the game, and what is going to give us the best chance to win it.”
“It will be unbelievable. If we make it happen tomorrow, we are in the semi-final, and we will be in a really highly emotional state – it’s something that we haven’t achieved as a club for the last 15-17 years and that’s the opportunity.”
