Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta believes his injury-ravaged facet can nonetheless problem for Champions League glory forward of Tuesday’s final 16, first leg journey to PSV Eindhoven.
The Gunners’ hopes of a primary Premier League title for 21 years look to have disappeared after shedding 1-0 at dwelling to West Ham and being held 0-0 at Nottingham Forest of their final two matches to fall 13 factors behind leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal’s lack of firepower is comprehensible with all of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli sidelined by harm.
Midfielder Mikel Merino has needed to deputise as a makeshift striker in current weeks, however Arteta insists there may be nonetheless higher to return from his facet.
“We nonetheless have gears with the gamers that now we have to take the sport to a unique stage,” Arteta mentioned at his pre-match press convention within the Netherlands on Monday.
“Each particular person needs to be at their finest. After we do this, and now we have that connection, we’re a extremely robust workforce.”
With out the luxurious of a free-flowing assault, Arsenal can at the least lean on the Premier League’s meanest defence and among the best within the Champions League thus far this season.
Solely Inter Milan conceded fewer than Arsenal’s three targets as they completed third within the eight-game league section.
“Specializing in what now we have carried out within the Champions League this season is our largest reassurance as a result of that does not occur at that stage of consistency for that many months for a random cause. It is as a result of now we have it in us,” added Arteta.
“We will need to adapt. That is clearly unquestionable, however we will nonetheless be very environment friendly and a high workforce.
“Once you get to this stage of the Champions League, there’s something else. You’re feeling it within the ambiance and the power of the place.
“It is one thing else as a result of it is a competitors you do not play weekly. You play, and you might be in or you might be out. And that offers you urgency.”
Arsenal managed only one shot on course towards Forest and two within the shock defeat to lowly West Ham.
However Jurrien Timber believes they do have the firepower to see off the Dutch champions.
“We alter the narrative by profitable video games, it is as simple as that. We’ve to attain tomorrow, now we have to win video games,” mentioned former Ajax defender Timber on his return to the Netherlands.
“We’ve a lot high quality in our group. We’ve a whole lot of accidents, particularly up entrance. We all know that. However I feel it’s a lovely problem for us as a workforce to place our entrance gamers, or anybody, in one of the best place to attain targets.”
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