UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Arsenal not under pressure to perform in UCL, says Arteta

There are no added expectations or pressure on Arsenal to perform in the Champions League despite its recent struggles in the Premier League, manager Mikel Arteta said on Tuesday ahead of a last-16 return leg match against PSV Eindhoven.

Arsenal thrashed PSV 7-1 away last week in the first leg and all but guaranteed themselves a quarterfinal spot.

However, its performances in the league have not been nearly as promising, with a run of three matches without victory leaving it trailing leader Liverpool by 15 points, albeit with a game in hand.

It has also been knocked out of the FA Cup and League Cup.

Asked if the Champions League represented its only realistic chance of winning silverware this season, Arteta told reporters: “It’s a competition that we have a lot of enthusiasm in. A lot of energy, we’re very consistent.

“Winning tomorrow puts us in a very good position, that’s it… It’s not adding pressure, it’s the reality of where we are and what we want to deliver.

“We are very conscious that the demands of this football club is to reach the highest level and win competitions, that’s it.”

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Arsenal could meet either holder Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in next month’s quarterfinal.

“Since the day we had the teams (set out) you are looking at the others for sure, and then the ones we knew as well,” Arteta said.

“We know them all because they are so good, so you put in your head ‘what if?’ But that’s it, then you have to earn every right to be in that position.”

The Spanish manager also hinted at giving some of Arsenal’s younger players game time against PSV, saying: “We’ve done that when we could.

“It’s always great because they’ve been extremely helpful and bringing so much to the team. When you have the opportunity to say thank you, or give minutes, which is a way of telling them we appreciate what you do for us.”