EU’RE IN DENIAL
Arteta dare not think of failure
S PRAGUE (1) ARSENAL (1) 8pm, BT Sport 1 Cuneyt Cakır (Turkey)
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MIKEL ARTETA does not dare think about Arsenal failing to qualify for Europe next season – for fear of spreading negative vibes.
But that is the prospect facing the Gunners if they lose to Slavia Prague tonight and go out of the Europa League.
Arteta’s flops sit ninth in the Premier League with a top-four finish a distant dream.
If disaster strikes tonight, Arsenal could end up failing to qualify for Europe for the first time since 1995.
Asked if he had considered that possibility, a defiant Arteta said: “No. Because I don’t want to put it in my mind or transmit it to any of the players or anybody at the club.
“It’s very important for us. This is our club. There’s no individual interest, it’s all a collective interest that we want to do well in every competition.
“This game can put us into the semi-final of a European competition. This is exactly where this club has to be. We have to do our best to earn that.”
Arsenal looked home and dry when Nicolas Pepe gave them an 86th-minute lead in the first leg at the Emirates last week.
But they conceded a stoppage-time equaliser as Tomas Holes scored an away goal that has left their season hanging in the balance. Now, Arteta
admits he needs his big-game players to rise to the occasion and put in a performance in their biggest match of the campaign.
He said: “Absolutely. We’ve shown that in big games, big players have to step in and create the magic moments.
“You need that. Let’s hope that we can have them.”
Arteta is sweating on the fitness of skipper Pierreemerick Aubameyang and loan star Martin Odegaard.
And the Arsenal boss was hit with another headache yesterday when goalkeeper Bernd Leno threw his longterm future into doubt by admitting would be open to a new adventure.
Leno has two years left on his contract, has yet to hold talks on a new deal, and says he does not know what the future holds for him.
He said: “I am happy at the club. I don’t know what will come in the future.
“But I’m open for everything – maybe for a new adventure or stay at Arsenal.
“At the moment I don’t think about my future because two years is still a long time.”