New Delhi : Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta urged his side to rewrite UEFA Champions League history as they begin their campaign on Tuesday. The club has never won the UCL trophy. Their last final appearance came in 2006 against FC Barcelona.
“That tells you how difficult it is, given our long history. We haven’t won it yet, and that’s the opportunity,” Arteta said. “Pressure drives energy and the willingness to improve every single day. Every decision must meet that standard. Let’s give our best chance to achieve it.”
He added, “The big clubs may try seven, eight, nine times and win only two. In this competition, you fail more than you succeed. That’s our history, and that’s what we want to change.”
Arteta also gave a fitness update on Martin Ødegaard, Ben White, and Bukayo Saka ahead of the match against Athletic Club. Ødegaard suffered a shoulder injury during their 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest and was substituted after 18 minutes for Ethan Nwaneri. Ben White has not featured since starting at Old Trafford on August 17. Saka went off against Leeds United on August 23.
Speaking to the media in Bilbao ahead of the San Mamés clash, Arteta said, “Gabi, Kai, Ben, and Martin are still out, unfortunately.”
On Saka’s fitness, he added, “No, there are still quite a lot of things to go through. It’s very early to know when he’ll be available. But he will certainly push to return as quickly as possible.”
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