Arsenal’s Champions League history irrelevant, Arteta says،
Mikel Arteta has branded Arsenal's history of Champions League last-16 failure as “irrelevant” and challenged his players to create their own dream final at Wembley.
The Gunners face FC Porto at the Estadio do Dragao in the round of 16 first leg on Tuesday, aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010.
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Arsenal were beaten in the last 16 on seven consecutive occasions between 2011 and 2017 – with Arteta having played at the club for five of those outings, including three defeats against Bayern Munich and two against Barcelona – and did not even qualify for the competition again until this season.
Of the team that lost 10-2 on aggregate to Bayern in 2017, only Mohamed Elneny remains and Arteta said: “The players know we haven't been in the competition for seven years, obviously because some of them were here and they know the history. .
“And they know that what happened in the past doesn't matter. That's the challenge and the ambition we have to face now. Someone called [Lionel] Messi was also another obstacle [in those years] and Bayern Munich, who we faced three times.
“This competition is what it is. Individual quality is extremely important. It comes down to details and you need your players at their best when the opportunity presents itself. Tomorrow, for sure, we will have some need.
“We don't have the experience which is reality. Ninety-five percent of these players haven't played this competition, they haven't played the round of 16, I haven't played. [managed in this stage]. But they have so much energy and enthusiasm to play well and that is our desire and the way we are going to play this game. »
Arsenal topped Group B after winning four of their six matches and despite their inexperience, the Gunners are favorites to progress against a Porto side who lost home and away to Barcelona during their group campaign.
Asked if winning the competition should be considered the pinnacle of the European club game, Arteta raised the possibility of playing in this year's final, which is expected to be held in London.
“I don't know if it's the best [competition]”, he said. “But it should be amazing to have this feeling of lifting this cup, in London – on the first of June.
“It's there. It's in our minds. It's a dream but there are a lot of things you have to earn the right to do before that and tomorrow we have a big obstacle in front of us. We're waiting for it really looking forward to it.”
Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu have all remained in London, but Fabio Vieira has been included in the traveling group as he nears his return from groin surgery in November.
