Mikel Arteta is adamant his Arsenal side will use motivation from their controversial league defeat to Newcastle over the weekend against Sevilla on Wednesday as they seek to advance to the last sixteen of the Champions League.
Arteta’s team head into their match day four game against the Spanish side in Group B off the back of a contentious 1-0 defeat to the Magpies, but a win on Wednesday can see them through to the knockout stages of Europe’s most prestigious club competition, and Arteta is positive his charges will be driven by that Saturday loss.
While facing the media during his prematch conference on Tuesday, the Spaniard was asked if his team will draw motivation from that defeat. He said; “Yes, especially the performance of the team. Looking back on the two games we played last year when we won 2-0 and lost 1-0 (against Newcastle), we were much better three days ago than a year ago.
“We deserved much more than in those games, but that’s the beauty of the game.
“We have to build on a lot of things we did against Newcastle, improve certain things especially in the final third, but the way we played and competed was extraordinary.”
The Gunners last featured in the Champions League knockout stages in the 2016-17 season, but they are looking to book their place in the last sixteen with two games to spare.
According to Arteta, they want to put the qualification to ‘bed’.
“The moment you have a chance to put something to bed, you do it.
“We’re going to have to do a lot of things right, and then have the right to win it against a team with enormous experience in this competition.
“We have to prove it tomorrow in front of our people how excited we are to play the game and how much it means to us.”
Victory alone will not see the Gunners through as yet though. Arsenal who currently lead the group with 6 points will also need Lens to beat PSV to achieve that.
Lens are currently placed second with 5 points while Sevilla and PSV sit third and four respectively each with two points.
