GUNNERS CAN GET A WRITE RESULT!
FROM JOHN CROSS in Munich MIKEL ARTETA has told his players to change Arsenal’s European history and write a new chapter in the Champions League.
Arsenal have not reached the semi-finals since 2009 and have a big chance to progress against six-time winners Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena.
It could be seen as an uphill task after a 2-2 draw in the quarter-final first leg and then a disappointing defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday which has damaged their title hopes.
But Arteta believes Arsenal can see off Bayern and has no fears about any hangover as they head into a defining week in their season.
He said: “We have to change it. There’s a lot of things we can do there to write that story differently. It’s about earning the right collectively and individually.
We want a performance that puts us in the Champions League semi-final. The prep has been to achieve that. We have earned it for 10 months and everything we did last season. Now we have an unbelievable opportunity to make it happen.
“Most of our players haven’t experienced a night like this. They’re super-motivated. They’re prepared and they feel confident.
“If we make it happen and we’re in the semi-final, we’ll be in a really high emotional state with something that we haven’t achieved in 15 years... and that’s the opportunity.”
Arteta, whose side face Wolves on Saturday night just 72 hours after their
Bayern trip, believes his players can put the setbacks behind them.
The Gunners were flat after the Villa defeat but Arteta says that will not dampen the mood against Bayern.
He said: “Throw the game away, the one that we played a few days ago, because regardless of that result, it is going to have no impact on what’s going to happen.
“Refocus and start to build the confidence, the trust, and understanding the performance that we are going to have to put in to beat them and go through in the tie.”
Boss Arteta also dismissed any notion that history is coming back to haunt them again after Manchester City usurped them last year and look capable of doing it again. The Spaniard added: “We didn’t lose anything last year because we didn’t win anything. First of all you have to win it and then you can lose it.
“What we had was an unbelievable journey against the best team in the world and this is where we want to be.’’
Leandro Trossard says Arsenal can handle the nerves of another penalty shoot-out – after going through in the last round on pens against Porto – and he will volunteer to take one.
The forward said: “If the manager wants me to take one, I’ve shown in the Community Shield that I’ll always be ready.’’