Arteta urges Arsenal to ‘forge their own narrative’ in the Champions League

Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta has addressed the media in anticipation of this week’s Champions League quarter-final showdown against Real Madrid.

The Gunners are set to host the first leg at the Emirates on Tuesday night, aiming to claim their inaugural European trophy.

Arteta shared some encouraging team news ahead of the encounter with the reigning champions, much to the pleasure of Arsenal supporters.

“Yes, it seems everyone is available. We have another training session this afternoon; Ben (White) completed the match and felt fine afterwards. The rest of the squad went through the game and managed some training yesterday, so they’ll be ready for today.”

In critical matches like these, mentality plays a vital role, and the Spanish manager expressed his belief that his side is well-prepared to overcome Madrid and advance to the next stage.

“Tomorrow night at 8pm, with 11 players and 60,000 supporters, I’m truly convinced we are ready to win and defeat them. That’s the mindset I want.”

“We need to be the team we’ve been for the last quarter of the season, navigating the ups and downs we’ve faced. Continuing to do that is our great strength.”

“I believe the players are convinced; if I need to convince them, then we have a problem. They know precisely what they need to do.”

Bukayo Saka has recently returned to the squad, and Arteta was asked if he is fit enough to start.

“He’s in a much improved condition; we’ve gradually increased his minutes over the past six or seven days, and he’s handled it extremely well. He’s in a good position to contribute.”

He also commented on the significance of entering the second leg in Madrid with a lead, a feat many teams struggle to achieve.

“There are aspects we can’t control—what they prepare for and their tactics—but our focus must be on understanding our strengths and weaknesses and the style of play we want to employ in the match.”

“It’s crucial, but this is only the first leg; our intention is clear—we’re aiming to achieve success tomorrow, and we’re going for it.”

When further questioned about the magnitude of this match for him as a manager, he revealed that Tuesday presents a fantastic opportunity for his team to demonstrate their capabilities.

“It’s one of the most extraordinary experiences. This competition has been a long time coming; the fact that we’ve only reached this stage twice in 15 years indicates the challenges involved for a club of Arsenal’s stature. We aim to craft our own narrative and go even further, and tomorrow is a wonderful opportunity for all of us.”

Lastly, he discussed the attacking prowess of Real Madrid and his strategy to prevent being overwhelmed by talents like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

“Given their individual skills, especially in key situations, we understand the threats we face. That’s why they’ve consistently performed at this level in the competition.”

“They can create those impactful moments, and on the biggest stages, individual brilliance can determine outcomes, which is essential for our success, and it’s something we must guard against.”