Arsenal don’t have any worry of dealing with Actual Madrid on the Bernabeu and can play to win the sport regardless of already holding a 3-0 benefit from the primary leg, in response to Mikel Arteta.
Final week’s victory on the Emirates Stadium, secured by Declan Rice’s free-kicks and Mikel Merino’s third purpose, has put Arsenal in a commanding place however Actual Madrid are optimistic of one other well-known European comeback.
Arteta admitted it’s “impossible” for his gamers to close out the noise from the Champions League holders given their historical past of comebacks on the Bernabeu, however he’s decided that his gamers will strategy the duty of reaching solely the third Champions League semi-final within the membership’s historical past with pleasure moderately than worry.
“We approach the game to win it, the same as we did in London,” Arteta mentioned at his pre-match press convention in Madrid on Tuesday night.
“Our preparation has been the issues we’ve got to do, the issues we’ve got to dominate in several phases of the sport to provide us the very best likelihood to win the sport.
“That is our mindset and the way we’re going to play on Wednesday.
“We now have to point out the mindset to win, to be courageous, to be dominant and to be decided.
“We need to have the conviction that we can be better than them and win the game.”
His feedback got here hours after Jude Bellingham declared the night time is “made for” a Actual Madrid comeback in a assured press convention on the membership’s coaching floor.
“I understand it because it is part of their history and they have the right to be talking about these kinds of scenarios,” mentioned Arteta.
“They’re going to try to take the game to places very different to our intentions.”
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Requested if he sensed any worry amongst his gamers, Arteta added: “I wouldn’t use that word. No fear, only respect.”
Arteta is decided for his facet to make historical past as they bid to win the Champions League for the primary time.
“There’s excitement,” he mentioned. “When you talk about creating history, look at how small the history is, we haven’t won the competition.
“We try to do one thing the place we try to begin to dominate European competitors.
“We have to earn the right to do that tomorrow on a big stage. It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s a great opportunity for the team.”
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Arteta and his Arsenal gamers look to be having numerous enjoyable as they put together to defend their three-goal benefit
The Gunners boast a formidable defensive report within the Champions League having solely conceded six targets within the competitors this season. They haven’t been crushed by 4 targets since a 4-0 loss to Liverpool in November 2021.
Arteta, although, insists their current report will depend for nothing if they can not proceed in the identical method on Wednesady night time.
“We have to do it again. It doesn’t matter. We have to prove it now in this context.
“That’s the great thing about it and the wonderful thing about sports activities.
“We have shown we are capable of doing it and that gives us reassurance and confidence we can do it. Now, let’s do it out on the pitch.”
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David Raya projected the identical message as Arteta. “The mood is great,” mentioned the goalkeeper.
“The sensation is just not nerves, it’s confidence that we are able to replicate what we did within the first recreation, and are available right here for the win.
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“We have the momentum with the way we played in the first leg.
“It was unbelievable from everybody and we’re right here to create our personal historical past, to return right here and win the sport.
“That is the most important thing.”
On the anticipated ambiance contained in the Bernabeu, he added: “Like I said that is something we cannot control.
“The followers, the stadium, the ambiance and the exhibits they’ve within the stadium. We can’t take into consideration that.
“We have to think about ourselves and what we can control on the pitch with the ball. Play the same way that we played in the first game and create chances to score goals.
“We have come right here to win the sport.”
