Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta believes his injury-ravaged facet can nonetheless problem for Champions League glory forward of Tuesday’s final 16, first leg journey to PSV Eindhoven.
The Gunners’ hopes of a primary Premier League title for 21 years look to have disappeared after dropping 1-0 at residence to West Ham and being held 0-0 at Nottingham Forest of their final two matches to fall 13 factors behind leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal’s lack of firepower is comprehensible with all of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli sidelined by harm.
Midfielder Mikel Merino has needed to deputise as a makeshift striker in latest weeks, however Arteta insists there may be nonetheless higher to return from his facet.
“We nonetheless have gears with the gamers that we’ve to take the sport to a distinct degree,” Arteta mentioned at his pre-match press convention within the Netherlands on Monday.
“Each particular person must be at their greatest. After we do this, and we’ve that connection, we’re a very robust staff.”
With out the posh of a free-flowing assault, Arsenal can not less than lean on the Premier League’s meanest defence and among the finest within the Champions League to this point this season.
Solely Inter Milan conceded fewer than Arsenal’s three objectives as they completed third within the eight-game league section.
“Specializing in what we’ve completed within the Champions League this season is our greatest reassurance as a result of that does not occur at that degree of consistency for that many months for a random purpose. It is as a result of we’ve it in us,” added Arteta.
“We will should adapt. That is clearly unquestionable, however we are able to nonetheless be very environment friendly and a prime staff.
“While you get to this stage of the Champions League, there’s something else. You are feeling it within the environment and the power of the place.
“It is one thing else as a result of it is a competitors you do not play weekly. You play, and you’re in or you’re out. And that provides you urgency.”
Arsenal managed only one shot on track in opposition to Forest and two within the shock defeat to lowly West Ham.
However Jurrien Timber believes they do have the firepower to see off the Dutch champions.
“We modify the narrative by profitable video games, it is as straightforward as that. We’ve to attain tomorrow, we’ve to win video games,” mentioned former Ajax defender Timber on his return to the Netherlands.
“We’ve a lot high quality in our group. We’ve numerous accidents, particularly up entrance. We all know that. However I feel it’s a lovely problem for us as a staff to place our entrance gamers, or anybody, in the most effective place to attain objectives.”
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