Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players to remain calm and bounce back from their recent dip in form ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Sporting CP.
The Gunners have suffered consecutive defeats which has also ended their hopes of winning a historic quadruple, leaving them with just two trophies to compete for.
Arsenal suffered a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the final of the EFL Cup before the international break, before another shock 2-1 defeat at Southampton last weekend, which sent them packing from the FA Cup.
This leaves the North London club with only the Premier League and the Champions League available for them to win this season.
Speaking during Monday’s pre-match press conference, Arteta says his side must remain focused as they look to bounce back to form.
“I think what you have to be is clear. Instead of panic, understand if that [losing games] happens, why it happened, and bring clarity. And when you analyse that and you accept that, you’ll be better. That’s it, and that’s the thing that we have to do”, Arteta said.
“Have some perspective on how difficult it is what we have done up to now. Then, feel that pain, feel that emotion and use it to be better and to improve.
We were very clear in what happened, the reason why it happened, watching the game two times we didn’t deserve to lose that match, but this is football and we get punished for things that are related to our identity”, the Spaniard added.
Arsenal are unbeaten in Europe this season and head to Portugal to face a Sporting side who are in good form as well.
The Gunners will be hoping for a favourable result in Tuesday’s first leg and will be aiming for an advantage to take into next week’s second leg.
“That’s the thing that we need to defend in the strongest possible way because that’s the reason why we are where we are today”, Arteta added.
“So, [we are] hungrier than ever, very excited and very, very motivated for tomorrow’s game.”
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