Mikel Arteta acknowledges that the Champions League offers Arsenal a chance to rescue their season.

Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, is banking on the allure of the Champions League to lift his injury-depleted squad out of their Premier League slump.

The Gunners’ aspirations for a first league title in over two decades seem to be fading, currently lagging 13 points behind the unbeaten Liverpool.

Now, their only realistic shot at ending a five-year trophy drought lies in conquering Europe for the first time. A favourable last-16 draw against PSV Eindhoven could provide Arteta the opportunity to reintegrate some key offensive players.

Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are both sidelined for the remainder of the season due to severe hamstring and knee injuries, respectively.

However, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli might make their return for the quarter-finals next month if Arsenal can progress.

The loss of these four forwards has been deeply felt, with Arsenal unable to find the net in their last two Premier League outings against West Ham and Nottingham Forest, effectively extinguishing their title hopes.

Midfielder Mikel Merino has stepped in as an improvised striker, while Arteta has had to rely on young Ethan Nwaneri to fill Saka’s regular position on the right flank.

“I understand that what we’re missing is that final piece,” Arteta acknowledged. “There’s plenty at stake, and we must discover the solution to unlock our potential.”

“The Champions League is upon us, a thrilling competition, and we must be ready for Tuesday.”

A lack of inventiveness and precision in front of goal has plagued Arsenal throughout the season.

The team managed just one shot on target in a goalless draw against Forest last week, marking the ninth occasion this season that they have failed to score.

Captain Martin Odegaard has struggled to replicate the performance levels of his previous two seasons since recovering from an ankle injury that sidelined him for two months earlier in the campaign.

Arteta, among a host of managers grappling with escalating injury issues, has pointed to the strain that a crowded fixture schedule is placing on elite players.

“He returned in exceptional form and performed at an incredibly high level,” the Spaniard said, commenting on Odegaard’s inconsistent displays. “However, sustaining that level over time, as we expect our players to do consistently—especially the creative ones—is an enormous challenge.”

Despite Arsenal’s early exit from the FA Cup, which allowed them six days to prepare for the journey to the Netherlands, their reliance on a solid defence has been pivotal this season.

With only Inter Milan conceding fewer than Arsenal’s three goals in the eight-game league phase, including clean sheets against Paris Saint-Germain and Atalanta, their defensive record stands out.

PSV manager Peter Bosz was left notably impressed by Arsenal’s defensive prowess during the visitors’ 4-0 defeat at the Emirates in last season’s Champions League group stage.

“As soon as we reached their box, our attack was effectively over. How is that feasible?” Bosz remarked at the time.

The domestic struggles faced by the Dutch champions offer further hope for the London side.

PSV has suffered two defeats to Go Ahead Eagles in the past week and are without a win in four league matches, though they did secure a notable 3-1 victory over Juventus to reach the last 16.

Despite their own goal-scoring troubles, Arsenal will aim to progress to the quarter-finals, looking forward to the return of Saka and Martinelli to provide the essential firepower for a potential showdown against either Real or Atletico Madrid.