Mikel Arteta Advises Arsenal Stars Ahead of Champions League Debut
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has advised his players not to get overawed by the occasion as they prepare for their first Champions League game in over six years. The Gunners host PSV on Wednesday night, with many of the 25-man squad set to make their Champions League debut at some point this season.
Arteta himself made his Champions League debut as a teenager back in 2001 and he is keen to pass on his experience. ‘The lesson probably is that you feel like this, [but] once you are on the pitch, just do what you do every single day and treat it in a natural way. Go for it, like we always do,’ he said in his pre-match press conference.
Arteta’s UCL Experience
Including qualifying matches, Arteta would go onto make 36 appearances in the Champions League for PSG, Rangers, Everton and Arsenal. And the PSV clash will of course be the 41-year-old’s debut as a UCL manager, and he is unsurprisingly thrilled to have bought the competition back to the Emirates.
‘Proud and excited I would say,’ he replied when asked how it felt to be back. ‘It’s been a long time for the club since we’ve been in the competition and obviously the first time for me as a manager as well. Really looking forward to it.’
Young Arsenal Squad
Given the time and the high turnover in the squad since then, many of Arteta’s players are in line to make their Champions League debut at some point this season. Only 11 of the 25-man squad have played in the competition before, with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice expected to walk out to the famous anthem for the first time tonight.
Many are interested to see how the young team will fare, and thankfully for them they can call upon the advice of their manager who found himself in a similar position back in 2001 – making his UCL debut as a teenager.
PSV Captain Praises Arsenal Stars
Meanwhile, PSV captain Denzel Dumfries has praised two of Arsenal’s stars ahead of Wednesday’s clash. ‘I think Arsenal have two very good players in Saka and Rice,’ he said. ‘They are both very talented players who can make a difference. We will have to be very alert when they have the ball.’
Arsenal will be hoping to get off to a winning start in this year’s Champions League, and with Arteta’s experience and advice, they may just have what it takes to do so.
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